Sourced from Daily Echo article
Will Virgil van Dijk get your vote for Player of the Season?
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Virgil van Dijk would have been nailed on for the Daily Echo’s Southampton FC Player of the Season award had injury not brought his season to a premature end.
The Dutchman is one of the finest centre-backs on the planet right now.
He had a pretty special first season after a £13m move from Celtic in the summer of 2015.
But this second term was on another level. Never fazed by anything or anyone, Van Dijk is superior in the air and with his feet.
You’ll never see him flustered, no matter how stressful the situation.
After former captain Jose Fonte’s exit for West Ham in January, Van Dijk continued his outstanding season by being handed the skipper’s armband.
But no sooner had he taken the captaincy that Jamie Vardy ended Van Dijk’s season with a stamp on his foot during Saints’ 3-0 win over Leicester at St Mary’s on January 22.
He exited play on 55 minutes and has not been seen since, having sustained damage to a ligament in his foot.
It was a sad end to what would have be another sensational campaign at Saints.
Despite his absence the interest in his signature has not waned, with a £50m switch to any of the big sides having been talked about in the press.
Claude Puel remains adamant that Van Dijk is very much part of their plans for next season, but the feeling among fans is perhaps the world class 25-year-old may have played his last game for the club.
Nonetheless, Van Dijk deserves for his imperious displays prior to injury to be on the shortlist for player of the season.
CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR VOTE FOR PLAYER OF THE SEASON >>>
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