"He's one of our own!" - Alan Pace reacts to big Jay Rodriguez, Burnley FC moment | OneFootball

Alan Pace sent Jay Rodriguez a message after the forward made his 300th appearance for Burnley.

Burnley owner Alan Pace congratulated Jay Rodriguez after his 300th appearance for the club in the win over Coventry City on Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old came through the ranks at Turf Moor, and went on to play 128 times for his boyhood club in his first spell, before a transfer to Southampton.

All connected to the club were delighted to see how Rodriguez progressed in the Premier League, and his form with the Saints also saw him earn an England cap.

Alan Pace reacts as Jay Rodriguez makes landmark Burnley appearance

A few years at West Brom followed after Rodriguez left Southampton, with the striker returning to Burnley in the summer of 2019.

And, the win over the Sky Blues was his 172nd in his second spell, which meant he had reached 300 for the club.

This saw Burnley arrange for Rodriguez to be presented with a shirt that had ‘300’ on the back from Pace and boss Scott Parker prior to kick-off.

The owner also sent a message to the forward on his Instagram story, as he referenced the song the fans have for Rodriguez as he congratulated him on this landmark moment.

“Jay Rodriguez! He’s one of our own!”

Jay Rodriguez is still contributing to Burnley

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, it would be a real shock if this wasn’t Rodriguez’s last season in a claret and blue shirt.

However, he is still making a big contribution to the side, and he has stepped up in the past few games as Parker deals with an injury crisis that has left him short on natural strikers.

It was Rodriguez who stepped up to score the crucial 94th minute penalty to beat Swansea, and he has started the last two games, against Bristol City and Coventry, which have also brought wins.

Even if he is no longer the player he was, Rodriguez can still be effective, as he is intelligent with his movement, and he knows how to occupy defenders.

You would also imagine he is a big influence in the dressing room, and having a player who has been there and done it is a major boost for Parker, and Rodriguez no doubt helps the younger players in the squad as well.

To play 300 games for the club you supported as a boy is a dream for everyone, so Tuesday was a special night for Rodriguez, particularly as he will know that this could be his last season.

But, his ultimate focus will be on the team, and it’s about helping Burnley back to the Premier League, which is the only priority for the club this season.

The football may not have always been pretty in the opening months, but the Clarets are third in the table, just two points off top, so they should be pleased with how they’re doing right now, with the side looking hard to beat.