Saints are adamant that they will not rush Virgil van Dijk’s injury comeback.

The Dutch centre half has been missing since January when he limped off during the home win against Leicester.

Though the club are confident that the injury is not overly serious, it is a delicate one that requires proper healing to avoid a repeat problem.

As such Saints are still taking their time with van Dijk, who has been in a protective boot and on crutches for more than a month now to avoid any further damage.

Given the sensitivity of the problem, and the need for it to properly heal before van Dijk can even return to training with the first team, Saints are keen not to put any definitive timescale on his comeback.

They are still optimistic that van Dijk will be available to play again before the end of the season, but his involvement is unlikely to stretch beyond a handful of matches.

Saints are also prepared to leave him out entirely for the remainder of the season if they are convinced it is in his best interests.

Though some have suggested the club would do that to protect his value, with rumours of a £50m move away from St Mary’s this summer still swirling, they are focussed on his involvement for them next season.

They want van Dijk to be fully fit and ready for a full pre-season, a first uninterrupted for Claude Puel following the disruption caused by last summer’s European Championships.

The club are also aware that the chances of there being too much left to play for come the final few weeks of the season are fairly slim.

Therefore, there is no point in them taking any unnecessary risks.

Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida have filled in admirably with van Dijk side-lined and Jose Fonte having been sold in January.

As well as Florin Gardos in reserve, Saints have moved to fill the void created by van Dijk’s injury by bringing in Martin Caceres.

Though Caceres had something of a delayed start to his time at the club, he came through unscathed after 90 minutes for the under-23s against Chelsea on Monday night and looked calm and composed throughout, though understandably in need of more game time after more than a year out of action.

Saints do have another under-23 game before they return to action, that away to Manchester United next Monday.

That could be a chance for Caceres to figure again, though Puel is unlikely to want him to take on that trip and then start against Tottenham when the sides meet at White Hart Lane a week on Sunday.