The first big question of the post summer transfer window was answered on Monday when Virgil Van Dijk returned to first team training, but there are still several others that are set to be posed in the coming days, weeks and months.

Virgil Van Dijk took the first steps towards playing for Saints again when he returned to first team training yesterday, albeit to a reduced squad with many members of it still away on International duty as Van Dijk himself would have been had he not taken the action he has done over the past six weeks or so.

Over the weekend the thought was that the player had three options, rejoin the first team squad and put in his best and play for the team again, rejoin the squad but go through the motions meaning that he would not be picked or the final rastic action of refusing to do anything other than train alone or with the youth team an action that would have big repercussions.

Thankfully he has selected rejoining the squad, although we are yet to find out whether it will be option 1 or 2 that he pursues.

But for now the first hurdle has been overcome and he is back with his team mates, who by all accounts as footballers do, welcomed him back with little fanfare and a bit of banter.

Van Dijk himself has kept himself fit, he took part in the initial fitness work with the first team squad so has a good base fitness level it is now a question of how quickly he could be got up to match sharpness.

From a Saints point of view they would aim to get him back in the swing of things and then give him a run out with the Academy side, that could come as early as next Monday when Saints U23's travel to the Bescott Stadium home of Walsall to take on Aston Villa.

Ideally Saints would like Van Dijk to get in the bulk of that match and then be in contention for the trip to Crystal Palace, they would like him to play some part in that match to get the comeback game out of the way away from St Mary's and 30,000 Saints fans giving him a frosty welcome.

This would be the ideal situation and he could make his home comeback against Manchester United were to be blunt Saints could really do with him taking on a resurgent United, this would perhaps be a bit of an ordeal to ask him to play his first Premier League game in 9 months without a bit of match practice, a good result at Palace with Van Dijk involved would take away a lot of the pressure of that day.

But the big question still remains whether Van Dijk has the appetite to knuckle down and realise that his best option is to get back to his best, he will get his big move, it is only a question of when, Saints will be in more of a mood to discuss that if the player himself is doing his job.

So the first step has been taken, it now needs everyone to come to the same conclusion, that it is in their best interests to have Virgil Van Dijk in the team and playing well, for the player it will earn him the big move he craves, for the club it will mean we can plan his exit and his replacement and finally for the fans, they have tp think what is best, the natural tendency would be to boo him onto the pitch, but that serves no one's interests especially the club.

The relationship between Van Dijk and the Saints fans will never be the same, no one expects them to sing his name or buy a shirt with it on the back, but we need him to win us points and keep us moving forward, as much as he has used us, we need to use him, when he returns there should be no reaction, in fact it should be used to galvanise the team around him.

As A Saints supporter I want to leave the ground after his return with thre points in the bag, I want to feel the satisfaction of that more than I want to feel that I have vented my anger at him, that will not help Saints and Virgil Van Dijk won't care one iota, it is beyond that, we know that.

The old saying is that the club is bigger than one man, Saints have showed that in the recent weeks, now the supporters have to as well, no one says that we have to like it, just that we have to see what the club is trying to achieve, Van Dijk's actions have harmed that enough already we do not want it compounded.

Photo: Action Images

SaintBrock added 09:17 - Sep 6 Chapter Seventeen A Hero's Return!
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aceofthebase added 09:22 - Sep 6 It's a major climb down and loss of face by VVD. I hope he returns to his pre injury form Time to move on and I hope he hasn't been promised an early leave in January or even next summer.
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skiptonsaint added 09:22 - Sep 6 Would take quite a big man to be obviously playing below par with your teammates around you being financially effected by your individual actions. But nothing would surprise me with VVD and his agent now. Chelsea was a bit different as it seemed like the majority of the dressing room agreed to play under par. Interesting couple of weeks ahead but would worry if it was Stephens and Yoshi dealing with that tall united side.

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A_Saint_in_Stoke added 09:29 - Sep 6 An excellent well thought out and delivered - and believe that nearly every true saints supporter will see sense in getting behind and be supported, although I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed by Virgel's ( our captain's ) childish behavior, and the relationships will never be the same as it has been in the past..
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helpineedsomebody added 09:31 - Sep 6 hes left the naughty boys room now now he has to face the fans some time let it be on saturday + pick hooty to play along side him the fans remember what you did in cardiff you stayed at the end & cheered the team he knows he has to face the music please help him thats why southampton fans are the most balenced fans in the world proud to be a saints fan
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steve73 added 09:43 - Sep 6 Oh yes, let's all be grateful. The amazing Virgil has deigned to play for his employers again. Saying that booing him is counterproductive is true but remember, the really counterproductive thing was his behaviour. Welcoming him back into the fold with a ripple of light applause will make us look needy and soft. The club took a hard stance against him and so should we. He deserves it. And if you think it's wrong to boo one of your own just remember he's not. He's only here on sufferance and probably doesn't give a toss what kind of reception he'll get anyway. A shining example of the modern footballer. Wish we'd got rid.

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AirFlorida added 09:49 - Sep 6 Have I missed something here? Why's he refusing to play? 😂
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SaintNick added 10:11 - Sep 6 steve73, no one said we should be grateful, we now have a situation the club has to use it for their advantage, nothing more nothing less. Yes Van Dijk is the one totally responsible, but it is about the club not one man, if we spend our time giving him abuse then it shows that the man is bigger than the club not the other way round. I have no problem in supporters booing, but when it is in the right context after a poor performance and not during it. The end result of this is he will leave the only question is when, till then lets get the best out of him,

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steve73 added 11:15 - Sep 6 Fair point, it just irritates the hell out of me that he can pull a stunt like that and still be cheered.
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SanMarco added 12:24 - Sep 6 Yes - I think we have to swallow our irritation -as Nick says any booing should be 'after', not 'during'. If he comes back, forms a partnership with Hoedt and we are 5th at Christmas we will be prepared to let it rest if not 'forgive and forget'. Ace: I expect he will be/has been promised something ala VM/MS - it should be next summer not Jan though (I don't know how enforceable 'not Liverpool' would be in stark reality but that would be nice). As for the 'apology' issue that's being raised all around - it is irrelevant for me. He needs to make peace with his team mates and manager but any apology to us would be pointless - we wouldn't believe it anyway.

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Justin33 added 13:00 - Sep 6 I'd like to see a 5/3/2 formation against Man U.
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SaintPaulVW added 13:26 - Sep 6 A few media friendly words of apology would be nice but behave like a good pro on the pitch for the rest of the season would be better. Badge Kissing not recommended.
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Markl2057 added 16:02 - Sep 6 Let's not forget we've kept 2 clean sheets out of 3 against lesser teams granted. Stephens and yoshida have acted professionally and fully committed to the cause, what signal will be sent to these guys if VVD comes strutting back through the door and straight into the first team. There is a fair and plausible shout for hoedt to come straight in, I personally like to see him in for Stephens but as for vvd 4th choice in my book and personally I will find it hard to forgive. My 10year old son looked up to this man and it was hard to explain why after signing a massive contract he wanted to leave within 6 months. Welcome him back???? Not a chance

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