Tearful Rodriguez faces World Cup heartache after injuring knee at the Etihad

In tatters: Jay Rodriguez's suffered a serious-looking knee injury against Manchester City

Painful;: Rodriguez landed awkwardly with no City player challenging him

Witness: England boss Roy Hodgson was in the crowd to see the incident

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino said: 'To be honest, it's not looking good.

'We need to assess him today and tomorrow, but it's a hard blow. It's not looking good for him, not good for the team.

'I can't really know until he has had the tests and until we have analysed fully the injury. All the players are really affected, not just by the result, not just by the refereeing decisions but how severe the injury for Jay is.

'He was treated at the stadium, he has not gone to hospital.

Assessment: Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino says he doesn't know the extent of the injury but that 'it is not looking good' for Rodriguez

Innocuous: Rodriguez tried to control a high ball, but twisted his knee as he landed

'Possibly [there is ligament damage], but at the moment we can't say anything at all, it is his right knee.'

The game was stopped for over four minutes and all sides of the Etihad Stadium stood to applaud the England forward as he was carried off the field.

Rodriguez is understood to be in serious contention for a place in Roy Hodgson's squad for Brazil after scoring 17 goals for Southampton this season, including five in his last four matches.

He made his debut in the 2-0 defeat by Chile in November.

Impact: Rodriguez twisted his knee as he landed

Treatment: The Southampton striker received treatment on the pitch before he was carried off on a stretcher

Tearful: Rodriguez was carried off on a stretcher