JAY Rodriguez came of age in the summer. He insists he is now maturing on the football pitch too.

The Burnley-born striker is enjoying his best run in the side since turning professional in 2007.

He was but a boy then, celebrating his 18th birthday during the Clarets’ pre-season tour of Austria.

Now 21, and with five successive starts under his belt, he is determined to make up for a lost season and at last make his mark on the first team.

While Burnley’s year in the Premier League remains one to remember for supporters, despite relegation being the ultimate outcome, it was one to forget for Rodriguez.

He had broken into the squad under Owen Coyle, and after coming off the bench to score a late Carling Cup third round winner against Fulham in 2008 went on to make a further 33 appearances, albeit mostly as a late substitute.

He was getting a taste.

But that all changed when Burnley ended a 33-year absence from the top flight.

In came Scotland striker Steven Fletcher as a £3million record signing, and one-cap England forward David Nugent on loan from Portsmouth, pushing Rodriguez down the pecking order, with little hope of forcing himself back up when he suffered a broken ankle in a reserves outing against Hull City.

But through his frustrations he always kept the advice of ex-Clarets Ade Akinbiyi and Andy Gray at the forefront of his thoughts.

He was reunited with Gray during a loan spell at tonight’s opponents, Barnsley, and the duo combined for Rodriguez to score on his Tykes debut against Preston North End.

“When I first met him, he was a great pro and a great guy and he helped me.

“With being a striker and me coming in young, it was always good to learn from him.

“You look at players like Ade and Andy Gray who have played a lot, and you can take all sorts of different attributes from their game and try to add them to your own.

“Andy Gray’s a great finisher and a great centre forward. Of course you want to take bits of what you can do and try to add them to your own game.”

Gray’s tutelage could come back to haunt the 32-year-old, who quit Turf Moor for Charlton Athletic two months into Coyle’s reign.

Rodriguez has back-to-back goals - three in total this season - and is in form.

His patience during a campaign of personal frustration is finally being rewarded, after current boss Brian Laws opted against bringing in extra firepower on signing Chris Iwelumo in favour of helping Rodriguez progress.

“It gives me confidence for him to say that - to have a bit of faith in me is really good,” said the Barrowford Celtic product.

“I still need to improve on my game and keep working hard and hopefully carry on getting goals.

“Last year was very frustrating. I just wanted to play in the Premier League.

“In a way it was a poor season for me last year.

“But now I just look forward and try to forget that year and carry on.

“Being patient has turned out to be a good thing,” he added.

“Breaking my ankle set me back as well, but I think it’s helped me to be patient, to get my head down and work hard at my game.

“That’s what I’ve tried to bring to this season.

“When you’re not playing it’s probably the worst place to be.

“But when you are playing it’s great and that’s how I want it to stay. I want to keep playing.

“You’re growing up and learning all the time in football.

“You have to be patient and try to control your emotions and keep your head down.

“I learnt a lot last season, even though it was a poor one for me.”