VIRGIL van Dijk cannot expect to walk straight back in to the Saints team if he returns to the fold following his protracted transfer saga.

That is the assessment of captain Steven Davis, who firmly believes that if Van Dijk is still a Saints player at the end of transfer window he’ll have to be ready to battle to win his place.

The window closes on Thursday at 11pm.

“We obviously missed him from January when he was injured and the likes of Jack (Stephens) and Maya (Yoshida) have stepped in and done extremely well,” he said.

“If he comes back he’s going to have to fight for that place again.

“But hopefully we can keep him because it will make our squad stronger.”

Davis has reiterated the door remains open for Van Dijk to come back to the team, having spent the close season pushing for the exit.

The 26-year-old has trained alone since July and has since handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move to Liverpool or Chelsea.

“That door has never been shut. There has been a lot made of the situation outside the club that isn’t necessarily true all the time but we will welcome him back,” he said.

“He’s a top quality player and he’s done well for us over the last couple of seasons and I’m sure if he came back into the team everybody would see the quality he’s undoubtedly got.”

The 32-year-old midfielder has been pleased to see the club take a firm stance on Van Dijk, with vice chairman of football Les Reed and chairman Ralph Krueger adamant the Dutchman is not for sale.

“It sends out a signal that we want to keep our best players and we want to try to build and progress and strengthen each season,” Davis said.

“That’s what we’re trying to do and hopefully we can do it.”

Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino refused to rule out entering the transfer market for fresh recruits before the end of the transfer window.

Davis believes that having a competitive squad is “healthy for the team”.

“We’ve got a good squad and there is good competition for places,” he said.

“Everybody knows if they’re in the starting line-up they’re going to have to work to stay in and that’s healthy for the team.

“There is pressure on you so you have to go out and perform.”

The Northern Ireland international has urged supporters not to judge Saints on their lack of goals just yet, after scoring just one goal from open play in the opening three games of the campaign.

Pellegrino's men remain unbeaten having drawn 0-0 against Swansea and Huddersfield, between beating West Ham 3-2 - in which two goals came from the penalty spot.

Davis insists the team are still taking in Pellegrino’s ideas and attacking philosophy, and is sure the goals will start flowing.

He said: “I wouldn’t judge it based on these games. I think we’re still creating good opportunities and getting in good areas and it’s just about getting that clinical edge into our game.

“The goals will come if we keep creating those chances and hopefully we will see that.”

Davis says it’s about getting the balance right.

“We’re trying at times to press higher up the pitch, get more pressure on the ball and move the ball quickly and try to find balls to stretch teams as well,” he said.

“It’s just about getting that balance.

“We’ve seen an improvement in the games we’ve played so far so hopefully we can keep building on that and working on it in the training pitch.

“It’s still early days. We’ve had a change in personnel and a change in manager so it’s going to take a little bit of time but there are some positive signs.”