Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk to return from injury in reserves match on Monday

VIRGIL VAN DIJK will make his comeback from injury on Mondayu in a game for Southampton’s reserves.

The defender has not played since damaging a ligament in his foot during the Saints’ 3-0 victory over Leicester on January 22.

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Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino admitted he did not know how far wantaway Van Dijk was from being physically or mentally ready to play for the first team again after his long lay-off and transfer saga.

Pellegrino said: “You never know because you have to show on the pitch how you are.

“Virgil is coming from a long period of time without playing a game. This is my concern right now.

“He will play Monday in the reserve team. We try to help him to be ready to help the team.

“He was training well this week. Now everything is normal.”

But after the 2-0 home defeat by Watford, Pellegrino conceded all was not well at Southampton – even leaving the Van Dijk issue aside.

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Previous Saints manager Claude Puel was sacked in the summer after his team struggled to score goals or to play entertaining football.

Under Pellegrino, the Saints have now failed to score in three out of four Premier League games and have been goalless in nine of their last 12 matches.

Pellegrino said: “We have to keep going, to keep working.

“I am here because the team was in trouble last season, no?

“If everything was perfect, maybe here will be another manager.”