VIRGIL van Dijk scored a headed goal for Saints under-23s as he continued his comeback following his summer transfer stand-off.

The Dutchman, who made his first-team return in the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, opened the scoring at Staplewood in a 3-0 win against Stoke, glancing a towering header home from a Matt Targett corner on 14 minutes.

This was the 26-year-old's second appearance for the under-23s in the space of a week, having also played 90 minutes last Monday in a defeat to Aston Villa.

As has been well-documented, Van Dijk had been training alone and was excluded from first-team duties while his future was decided during the summer months.

Van Dijk had handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force through a move away, with Liverpool and Chelsea interested.

However, the club were adamant they were not going to sell the Netherlands international, and after the transfer window closed he was re-integrated back in to the Saints fold.

He made his initial return in the Villa game last week before coming on as a late substitute in Saturday's 1-0 triumph at Palace as he made his first-team comeback.

And as he continued to work his way back to full fitness Van Dijk was involved for the under-23s again, playing the full 90 minutes.

He'll now target more first-team game time when Manchester United come to St Mary's on Saturday in the Premier League.

Considering he has now completed two full matches - in addition to his cameo appearance at Selhurst Park - it won't be long before Van Dijk will be pushing to start for the first-team.

But it seems likely that Van Dijk will play again next Monday, when the under-23s travel to West Brom, as he continues rediscover to find full match sharpness.

Targett and Callum Slattery were also on the scoresheet against Stoke as the under-23s recorded their first win of the season after five straight defeats.