Tuesday 12 September 2017 11:05, UK
Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk played the full 90 minutes for the club's U23s as they lost 4-0 to Aston Villa at Walsall's Bescot Stadium.
It was Van Dijk's first competitive action in a Southampton shirt this season after a summer in which he put in a transfer request at the club and trained on his own.
He has since been reintegrated into the senior squad after making it clear he wanted the club to take up the interest from Liverpool, who issued a public apology in June following suggestions of an improper approach for the centre-back.
Van Dijk has been out of first-team action since sustaining a serious ankle injury on January 22.
The club will be hoping the Netherlands international can get up to speed quickly as debutant Wesley Hoedt, a compatriot of Van Dijk's who was handed his chance at the heart of the Saints defence against Watford, endured a tough time against Andre Gray in the 2-0 home defeat.