Virgil van Dijk is touch and go to be fit for Saints’ EFL Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The big central defender limped off early in the second half of the 3-0 win over Leicester after failing to recover from a challenge by Jamie Vardy which damaged his left ankle.

Saints boss Claude Puel will be nervously waiting to learn the full extent of the injury ahead of the massive game at Anfield.

He said: “He could not continue the game.

“We will see for the next games. I don’t know if we can recover him.

“He took a big kick and we will see if we can recover him for this game.

“I hope we can have Virgil of course because he is our captain and he’s an important player.

“Of course, it will be better to recover Vigil for this game.”

Saints are not flush for options at centre back at the moment following the sale of Jose Fonte to West Ham.

Fonte’s departure has seen van Dijk named as the new team captain, with Steven Davis as club captain.

But it will be van Dijk’s availability for Wednesday night that will be of greatest concern, with Maya Yoshida likely to partner Jack Stephens if the Dutchman doesn’t make it.

Though the injury does not seem particularly serious, it does add pressure on Saints to act in the transfer market, though Puel is not getting carried away about that.

“We will see until the end of the market, and we will take things about an opportunity or not to take another centre back,” he reflected.

“I am also happy with the possibilities in defence and we see if Gardos can come back with a good level.

“We will see this with calm and whether there is a possibility or not to take another player in place of Jose.”

Following the morale boosting win over Leicester, it is now all eyes on Anfield.

“We like many points in the Premier League but it’s an important game not because the Premier League was not sufficient the last games but it’s an opportunity to see a final and second leg all is possible,” admitted Puel.

“Of course Liverpool is favourite for this game and it’s just one goal for us which is not much but we will see this and in football all is possible.

“It was a good first leg against Liverpool with quality and a goal or two goals more was possible and it will be interesting for the second leg.

“It is important at the moment not just to see the possibility to play a final but with a good focus for our game.”