IF you were 6ft 5in and the tallest Premier League outfield player, you’d expect to be easily spotted.

The long, flowing, blonde hair isn’t the most disguisable feature either.

Until recently though, Jannik Vestergaard has been hard to notice in a Saints shirt on a consistent basis.

Signing in the summer from Borussia Mochengladbach, big things were expected from the Danish international, but it didn’t turn out the way he wanted.

He found himself in and out of the team when Mark Hughes was in charge, which only made it more difficult to settle into a new club and country.

Daily Echo:

Former Saints boss Mark Hughes

“I think it’s been a challenging six months for the club and for me personally,” Vestergaard admitted.

“I think the past couple of weeks have been a turning point for me, I know that is a bit cliché, but I have found myself and had some consistent, good games after the Cardiff game.

“I guess it’s easier to settle in if you are playing, so it might have taken longer than I felt it would have.

“But I have to show good performances over more than just three, four or five weeks. I need to do it on a consistent basis over a season, or even more, but it’s still too early to say I’m really settled in.

“I have been happy with how I have come back to what I know I can play and I think it has increased my confidence, especially as I could bounce back from my mistake at Cardiff.

“That’s been good for me and I think we as a team have improved and gotten a lot better.”

Vestergaard’s transition into English life has been made easier by the small Scandinavian contingent at Saints, which is made up by fellow summer signing Mohamed Elyounoussi and club captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Daily Echo:

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

He is good friends, on and off the pitch, with fellow Danish international Hojbjerg and admitted the midfielder has been a huge help in making him feel welcome.

The international teammates regularly dine out with each other and their respective partners have also struck up a close bond.

And Vestergaard, 26, believes the duo’s friendship has made the transition into the Southampton way much easier.

“Pierre has been a help,” added the central defender. “He was already here, he knew everyone and then we know each other outside of football as well.

“Pierre is a friend and his girlfriend gets along with my wife which is quite important, so it’s definitely been a help.

“It’s also been nice to have someone to speak Danish to.

“I think it’s important [to forget about football] sometimes because it’s not just a job, it’s what we love to do.

“You take every small detail home with you and sometimes it can get to your head and do more damage than good.

“It’s nice to have some time where you can just switch off and be with friends.”

Vestergaard is the only centre-back Saints have signed since Virgil van Dijk joined Liverpool for £75m this time last year.

But he isn’t concerned by comparisons with the Dutch star.

Daily Echo:

Former Saints defender Virgil van Dijk

“I’m trying to be myself, I’m not trying to be Virgil van Dijk,” he said.

“He is obviously one of the best centre backs in the world – if not the best – right now, so that hasn’t been on my mind at all.

“I’m trying to find back to myself and to my level to show what I know I can do.

“I think the last couple of weeks have been a good step towards that and now it’s about doing it on a consistent basis.

“I’m not going to talk about what others can expect because I don’t know their expectations. I can only talk about myself and what I have felt.

“I have felt like I could recognise myself more and it’s about building up from there.”

Vestergaard has proved to be a crusader at the back for Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl’s revolution.

Daily Echo:

Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl

He’s featured in all but one match since the Austrian’s arrival. The towering Dane missed the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the end of last month.

His re-emergence to the Saints line-up shouldn’t come as a surprise. Vestergaard already knew who Hasenhuttl was due to their time in Germany.

Vestergaard knows what it’s like to play against one of his manager’s teams and he is looking forward to Saints following suit.

“I played against his teams but didn’t know him personally,” the 26-year-old added.

“His teams were uncomfortable to play against and aggressive. They press up high and don’t give you much time on the ball.

“I’m looking forward to us becoming uncomfortable like I know his teams can be.”

Hasenhuttl has shown in recent weeks that he’s hoping to revert to a back four instead of deploying five defenders.

The Austrian tried that system against Manchester City, but quickly switched back to his old ways after realising Kayne Ramsay and Raheem Sterling were a mismatch.

Daily Echo:

Saints' towering central in action during the 3-1 win at Huddersfield

Vestergaard has been playing alongside Jan Bednarek and Maya Yoshida at the heart of Saints’ defence and is likely to partner Jack Stephens while the latter is at the Asian Cup.

But Vestergaard doesn’t get bogged down with formations.

 “I don’t have a preference. I just play where ever the manager feels is best for the team and the opponent you are facing.

“Obviously there are some differences but there is no formation that is the right formation otherwise everyone would play it.

“Every formation has its advantages and weaknesses and it’s always about how you fill out the different tactics with passion, being aggressive and confidence on the ball.”