Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino sent Jay Rodriguez a congratulatory text after the Southampton striker's superb double against Bournemouth.
But Pochettino admits Rodriguez's return to form, following a nightmare two years of injury, comes just at the wrong time for Spurs, who travel to St Mary's on Wednesday.
Rodriguez scored 17 goals in 2013-14 during Pochettino's final season in charge at Southampton but an excellent campaign ended in anguish after he ruptured ligaments in his right knee against Manchester City.
The forward looked back to his best, however, in Southampton's 3-1 win at Bournemouth eight days ago as he scored twice, the second a superb long-range strike.
"I was very happy. I sent him a text," Pochettino said. "I was happy to see him on the pitch again. He suffered a very bad injury and I remember, fresh in my mind, that day at Manchester City.
"He's a top player, a top man and we were happy to see him score against Bournemouth.
"Now though we will suffer him because he will be our enemy and our opponent. But I'm happy he's back to his level. He's a top person."
Pochettino enjoyed a close relationship with Rodriguez at Southampton and was reportedly eager to bring the striker with him to White Hart Lane in 2014.
Asked about the possibility of reigniting his interest, Pochettino said: "There were a lot of players linked with Tottenham at that moment."
Both teams will be looking to continue recent resurgences on Wednesday, with Spurs winning four out of their last five matches while Southampton are unbeaten in four.
Pochettino's men sit only a point behind Arsenal and fourth place but they can ill afford any slip-ups if they are to stay in touch with in-form leaders Chelsea.
"Last season the table was the same at this time -- seven, eight points behind Leicester," Pochettino said.
"I think it's realistic. The gap is 10 points behind Chelsea but there are a lot of games to play. We can fight for the title at the end of the season.
"This is a very important period, not decisive, but important to cross in a good position and attack the last three or four months with the possibility to try to fight for the top four."