NO RUSH TO BRING BACK VAN DIJK

REBEL Virgil van Dijk has been told he must wait to reclaim his Southampton starting spot.

The defender, 26, handed in a transfer request this summer in a desperate attempt to force a move to Liverpool, but Saints refused to sell. The £70million-rated Dutchman (left) returned as a late sub against Crystal Palace but is likely to find himself back on the bench against Manchester United. Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino said: “He is an important player for us and I think that every single week he will improve. But, at the same time, he needs to train and he needs to play.

“He will continue to play in some of the reserve matches but not all of them, as I would like to introduce him (back to the first team) little by little.”