Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has said that the club are ready to make their bow in the group stages of the Europa League.

Last year, the Saints missed out on qualification for the round-robin format after losing in the final playoff round, but their sixth-place finish in the Premier League in May ensured that they were able to bypass the earlier rounds.

Claude Puel's side get their campaign underway against Sparta Prague on Thursday night and Van Dijk has called on his team to try to enjoy the occasion.

The 25-year-old told reporters: "As a club it is amazing to be in this competition. We need to enjoy it but we have a lot of opportunities coming to get good results, and maybe progress in the group too.

"I think it is going to be a good game, we need to be ready and I think we are. I'm ready for it and I think the rest of the boys are as well.

"It's a reward from last season, we need to enjoy it but not forget that it is a big opportunity."

Inter Milan and Hapoel Be'er Sheva are the other two clubs to feature in Group K.