Pied relishing overdue return for Southampton

Southampton’s hunt for European football may be falling by the wayside, but Jérémy Pied is delighted just to be back in the first team reckoning on the south coast.

The French defender has missed the entire season so far barring the Saints’ opener against Watford – where he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in a 1-1 draw.

After seven months out however, Pied rejoined first team training for the first time on Wednesday.

And with Claude Puel’s side dropping to tenth in the table having lost five of their eight league games since the turn of the year, he is hoping he can have a role in galvanising the team for a final push up the standings.

“I am very happy to come back with the first-team,” said the 28-year-old. “I had some training with the Under-23s two weeks ago, but I am happy to come back with the first-team.

“I feel good and ready to show everybody my best and to give my best for them. It’s been very difficult.

“I’m an ambitious guy, so it has been difficult for me with this injury, but with a lot of work and motivation, and thanks to my teammates and medical staff, everyone in Southampton helped me to have a good rehabilitation.

“Between six and seven months was very long, but today the worst is behind me and I feel good on the pitch and I am really happy to have this good rehabilitation.

“Today I feel good and I am happy and ready, step by step, to show to my teammates and the fans, and everybody who believes in me here, my best and to give my best for them.”