As predicted last week Virgil Van Dijk has made his return in a Saints shirt in the U23 side to meet Aston Villa at Walsall, but it wasn't a happy return.
Virgil Van Dijk lined up in an inexperienced U23 side to face Aston Villa, although Alex McCarthy was in goal and ne signing Jan Bednarek partnering him in the centre of defence there was little other experience of not in the starting XI
But it was not to be a happy return for the Dutchman, Villa took the lead after only 13 minutes and although Saints had a chance or two the lead was doubled before the break as the MIdlands side dominated.
The game was effectivily over only minutes into the second half when Villa added a third and on 53 minutes it was four and it looked like being a long night for Van Dijk and his team mates.
However they dug in and there was no further scoring, Van Dijk himself played the entire match.
Ultimately though this was all about giving him game time and although reports suggest that he did not look at his best nor was he sharp, that is only to be expected given that he has not played in any sort of competitve game in nearly 8 months.
The object of playing him was to assess his fitness and after this game I would be surprised if the club considered him for selection against Crystal Palace if the reports I have seen ae anything to go by.