Celtic coach John Collins is backing Virgil van Dijk for success with Southampton.

Collins is a big fan of the former Hoops defender.

“He's a footballing centre-half and he likes to carry the ball forward and start moves off," he told talkSPORT.

“At set pieces he's a threat. He scores goals with his head and with free-kicks from 25 or 30 yards out.

“He's got a lot in his locker and of course we'll miss him, but we've signed a young Croatian centre-half [Jozo] Simunovic.

“He's a football-type centre-half that we're looking for, trying to replace like for like, but time will tell."