With vital World Cup Qualification games looming for the Netherlands in 3 weeks time, could Virgil Van Dijk be about to make a return to playing.

Whilst the position of both Virgil Van Dijk and Southampton FC remains unchanged at present, the club playing hardball in the last few days could see movement in his current non playing status.

Of course Van Dijk continues to train alone but that is a long way off match fitness even though he has had pre season fitness training prior to his exclusion from the squad.

Dick Advocaat the Dutch International team manager and incidentally also a client of Van Dijk's agent Rob Jansen has been vocal about the player going to Liverpool, but he has two vested interests, apart from the mutual agent, Advocaat needs Van Dijk in a do or die clash with the French in Paris.

Initially he would have hoped that the move to Anfield would have pushed through and the player got in a game or two enabling him to be in line for selection against the French, but Advocaat and Van Dijk are now starting to accept that Southampton are standing firm and no matter how much the player tries to force the move through, Saints will not budge.

Now although this will not soften the attitude for Van Dijk about moving to Anfield, it may well start to bring him to his senses about his alleged mindset which has meant that Saints had to remove him from the squad.

Like wise Saints are not softening but word is that they have stopped playing kid gloves and whereas before they have not tested Van Dijk's resolve they may be about to do so and insist he play for the club.

That will not mean in the first team but possibly in an Academy fixture against Reading next Monday evening.

Van Dijk will have to make a big decision then, if he refuses to play he will be in breach of contract and Saints will be able to take action and also at that point could be likely to report Liverpool for unsettling Van Dijk and encouraging him to refuse to play.

But it is likely that Van Dijk will not refuse but pull on a Saints shirt against the Royals albeit with gritted teeth.

He will have thought that he would have been a Liverpool player by now and it has dragged on enough and even Liverpool would be telling him he needs to stay sharp and that means match fitness.

Dick Advocaat would certainly be an interested spectator, Van Dijk hasnt played competitively since January, some seven months, he will want to see the chances of him making the game in Paris.

This will probably not mean a recall to the first team yet for Van Dijk, but it will be another crossroads in this appalling situation, we will find out whether he has integrity or not.

So next Monday 14th August will be a big date in this saga, it won't be the last one, but it will signall the end of the stand off and the start of the serious business and whether Van Dijk is prepared to sit out at least the first half of the season in the stands or be a model albeit reluctant professional and fulfill the terms of his contract.

Photo: Action Images

SaintBen added 16:08 - Aug 10 I doubt VVD would be considered for the Dutch team at the moment anyway, he's been out for too long and hasn't even kicked a ball in anger for 6 months... If he does ever play for Saints again (and that's a HUGE IF!) then it'd be after the window has slammed shut, and with a large helping of tail-between legs/apologizing from his part....
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SaintPaulVW added 16:16 - Aug 10 He needs to start behaving like a professional. An early game could be good for him.
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highfield49 added 16:31 - Aug 10 I've just read that Saints have, allegedly, made a bid of around £20m to sign Kevin Wimmer from Spurs, which could obviously be wildly inaccurate but potentially significant. Although, not too many days ago, I was optimistic that VVD could return to the fold I honestly can't see it happening now. Liverbile managed to get their vampire forward to swivel his head 360 degrees for one season before he went to Barcelona but, from what I remember, even his strop was not up to VVD standards. VVD has already publicly complained about his humiliation training alone and being told to play against Reading in an Academy fixture is pure fodder to the Souness, Redknapp mob. A risky strategy if you're right Nick.

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Sanguin added 16:39 - Aug 10 I think it makes sense to ask van Dijk to play against Reading but keep him away from the first team until he changes his position or the transfer window closes. I think the £20m offer for Wimmer makes sense and despite the high price seems like the kind of business that Southampton would do (buying fringe players from larger teams e.g. Lemina and Romeu). I can’t see us going back with a higher offer now that it’s been rebuffed though.

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leighsaint added 17:20 - Aug 10 High field For Christ sake man remember your British and a Saints fan get some balls and don't give in at the first bit of trouble
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sambat added 17:23 - Aug 10 I would make him play in the Women's team, if they would have him.
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OwenTheSaint added 17:54 - Aug 10 Did none of you read Virgil's heartfelt transfer request the other day? He's obviously been treated disgracefully by the club and is looking for sympathy from the fans. Put him in the squad as a sub for Saturday, then make him run up and down the line to warm up so the fans can deliver their sympathy directly!!!
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Cjay80 added 17:55 - Aug 10 We certainly need to try to get that bridge mended. I don't believe that the door has been closed and locked shut on a return. He needs to be professional, honour his part of the employment contract and play in a way that gets his name sung again. Or get a bloody move on, try to get Barcelona in for him before they waste all their money on Coutinho and buy Ben Gibson.
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BoondockSaint added 18:43 - Aug 10 Loan him to a first or second division team. I'm sure they would love to have him......as would their opponents!
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highfield49 added 18:52 - Aug 10 Whatever your interpretation of my earlier post is leighsaint I didn't say VVD shouldn't be playing against Reading. I said nothing more than it was a risky strategy insisting that he play. Certainly give him the opportunity to play and let him take the consequences if he refuses to do so. I don't see that scenario as lacking balls, I see it more as a thought out strategy, but everyone is entitled to their opinion.

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Saintsfc added 19:09 - Aug 10 This whole van dijk saga to me just seems to a classic case of 'you made it.. Now lie in it'. If someone allowed me to come take a pint of milk from there fridge every single week and suddenly few years later asked what I'm doing or reported me, I'd be taken back or a bit surprised too
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Saintsfc added 19:10 - Aug 10 Having said that hope he sorts his head out and puts a saints shirt on again as it's clear he's going nowhere
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saintmark1976 added 19:25 - Aug 10 The whole VVD situation is no longer worth serious consideration. Frankly I given up on it. However your comment Saintsfc is priceless and must be the highlight of the whole miserable affair. I've absolutely no idea what it means but to link VVD laying in bed with a pint of stolen milk is absolutely brilliant. Thanks for cheering me up.
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SaintBrock added 13:33 - Aug 11 SaintBen has said all that needs to be said on this speculation. I doubt vD has even tested his healed foot in a contact training session since he was injured.
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