Jan Bednarek officially trains with Southampton for the first time

After an extended break following the European Under-21 Championships, Jan Bednarek enjoyed his first training session at Staplewood today.

Alongside Jack Stephens and Matt Targett, new Southampton signing Jan Bednarek was put through his paces at pre-season training today.

All of them had been given extended breaks afters participating in the European Under-21 Championships in Bednarek’s native country of Poland, meaning they missed out on the Saints pre-season camp in Austria.

The Polish defender joined at the start of the month from Lech Poznan in a deal reportedly worth around £6 million – it made him the most expensive player in the Polish First Division.

Southampton fans will be excited to see the young defender in action with friendlies against Brentford and Saint-Etienne fast approaching, although it will likely be overshadowed by Virgil van Dijk’s potential return.

Bednarek spoke to the Southampton media team following his first day of pre-season tests, expressing his delight after joining up with some of his teammates for the first time. He said:

"“I was really missing football so I’m just happy I’m here. It was good to have some rest but I didn’t forget about keeping in shape so I did some extra work and I feel good and ready.“We have to be one team if we are to be successful so it’s very important to know each and have good relationships. Day after day I will know everyone much better and that’s a point to try and get to know about my teammates as fast as possible.“It’s good that we can go on a camp so I can start to co-operate with my teammates and it will be very good for me.”"