Steven Caulker is ready to compete for his place at Saints after Virgil van Dijk's arrival from Celtic on transfer deadline day

The QPR loan man, who arrived at St Mary’s from Loftus Road in the summer transfer window as cover for the injured Florin Gardos, has started just one of Saints’ four Premier League matches, but is up for proving his worth to manager Ronald Koeman.

The 23-year-old doesn’t feel threatened by deadline day arrival from Celtic, Van Dijk, for a fee that could rise to £13million, making him the most expensive defender Saints have ever signed.

Instead, Caulker is planning on enjoying the competition for a place at the heart of Saints' defence with Van Dijk, Jose Fonte and Maya Yoshida.

"It’s a big squad, with strength in depth all over the pitch and there’s competition for places," the former Swansea and Cardiff man explained, ahead of today’s top-flight match with West Brom at The Hawthorns.

"We’ll all have to be together and be patient and will each other on.

"It’s something that is new to me but I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead."

When asked whether he was frustrated about the lack of playing time, he added: "No, not yet.

"It’s four games and I understand I have to be patient and bide my time.

"When my chance comes I’ve got to be ready for it."

He feels that the 3-0 win over Norwich before the international break has "give the boys a lift".

"It was an important game for us," he said.

"We’ve had a bit of a stop start to the season, obviously a disappointing result in the Europa League as well, so the result was much needed.

"The win was more like the Southampton I was watching and playing against last year."

Caulker’s career has gone slightly sour since he played for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics and then made his only England appearance, in which he scored in a defeat to Sweden in November the same year.

Relegation from the Premier League with Cardiff and then QPR followed, but he is now enjoying re-finding lost confidence as well as the style of play that Koeman implements.

"It’ a similar style I was used to at Swansea," he said. "We play out from the back and playing it into midfield, so I’ve had to go back to that, the last two years have been very different.

"I’ve been training day in day out and learning a lot off the players that are already here and obviously the manager that sometimes steps in and gives his advice.

"It takes a bit of time, but it’s been six or seven weeks now, so I feel comfortable on the ball and I’m getting my confidence back and just enjoying my football."

It maybe all ifs and buts at the moment, but Caulker has seen how the likes of Jay Rodriguez and Ryan Bertrand as well as Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert in the past, have been thrust into the Three Lions picture while at Saints.

"Looking at the other boys that have come, a lot of them have re-kicked their career here," he said.

"There’s no better example than Ryan Bertrand. Obviously he came here and reignited his England career.

"So there’s a possibility (I could get selected), but for me I’m just focusing on club football and trying to get as many games as possible for Southampton.

"If anything comes off the back of that, then great."