Saints boss happy to welcome Van Dijk back to senior training set-up

Van Dijk has been reintegrated into the senior squad having been training on his own after handing in a transfer request at the start of August.

The 26-year-old had made it clear he wanted the club to take up the interest from Liverpool, who issued a public apology in June following suggestions of an improper approach for the centre-back.

While it may yet be too early for Van Dijk, who has been recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the end of January, to be considered for an instant return to match-day action, Saints boss Pellegrino insists it is now very much a case of business as usual.

"Now he is training with the team again. It depends on the player now," said Pellegrino ahead of tomorrow's match against Watford.

"We know he is coming from a long period of time without playing, he needs to train and to play games, but we will decide in the future.

"The best thing in football is that you have to show on the pitch how you are, but now everything is normal, and this is good news for us."