Virgil van Dijk could play for Southampton at Crystal Palace on Saturday six weeks after lodging a transfer request in an attempt to force a summer move to Liverpool

Daily Mail | September 14, 2017

Wantaway defender Virgil van Dijk could end his Southampton exile this weekend, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

The Holland international handed in a transfer request over the summer amid strong speculation linking him with a move away from St Mary's.

Van Dijk has not featured in any of Saints' five matches so far this campaign due to the uncertainty over his future, and has not played competitively since suffering a foot ligament injury against Leicester in January.

Virgil van Dijk has been training well and could play this weekend,u00a0Mauricio Pellegrino has said — Virgil van Dijk has been training well and could play this weekend, Mauricio Pellegrino has said

The defender hasn't featured this season but a return is on the horizon, according to Pellegrino

Van Dijk has been injury-free since the season began but he was not in the right frame of mind

He was selected for an Under 23 game on Monday evening - a 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa - and may now be a surprise inclusion for the Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace on Saturday as he attempts to get his career back on track.