Virgil van Dijk returns to first team training at Southampton

Virgil van Dijk has returned to first-team training after failing to secure a move away from Southampton this summer, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The Netherlands international was desperate to join Liverpool during the transfer window and even handed in a transfer request in order to force through a move.

However, Southampton were adamant their captain would not be leaving and Mauricio Pellegrino has now sanctioned his return to first-team training for the first time this season.

Van Dijk, who has not played competitively since suffering an ankle injury in January, comes into contention for Saturday’s reception of Watford but is thought to be a few weeks away from full match fitness.

Since August 2015, Van Dijk has won the most WhoScored Man of the Match awards than any other defender in Europe’s top 5 leagues (10).