Former England winger Darren Anderton says he feels for Jay Rodriguez after injury ruled the Southampton striker out of the World Cup.
Rodriguez was handed his Three Lions debut by Roy Hodgson in November's friendly against Chile and his fine form with the south-coast club had put him in the running for a place in the squad heading to Brazil.
During the 4-1 defeat at Manchester United, however, the 24-year-old's hopes were cruelly extinguished when he fell awkwardly, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Darren Anderton in action for Tottenham Hotspur
With an expected six month spell on the sidelines, former international Anderton knows exactly how the forward is feeling.
"He will be heartbroken, of course," he said. "You do want to play for your club but everyone wants to play for their country and go to a World Cup.
"He has had a great season and you saw when the injury happened that he was devastated.
"He knew it was a bad one and I'm sure straight away that was in his mind that he is out of the World Cup."
Ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth man Anderton won 30 caps for the Three Lions, despite a career disrupted by injury, and says Rodriguez must focus on getting back to his best as soon as possible.
"It is very difficult," he told BBC Late Kick Off South, South West and West. "At least he knows that it is six months - he has got to get his head around that.
“At least he knows that it is six months - he has got to get his head around that.”
Darren Anderton
"I got injured in seasons going up to a World Cup or European Championships, but I was lucky I got fit just in time to go and take part in those.
"It will be even more difficult for him but he is at a great football club, he has had a great time.
"He has just got to get himself right. [My message to him would be] just keep your head up. It is difficult.
"It is all part of the game, all part of football. He has had a great season, he has been a great signing for Southampton.
"He has just got to get himself fit and carry on what he has been doing."
