Esselink standing on the shoulders of Van Dijk

DUNDEE UNITED new boy Bert Esselink has revealed he came to Scotland to follow in Virgil van Dijk's footsteps.

- By Scott Burns

The defender made the switch from Polish side Stal Mielec last month on a two-year deal.

Esselink had always wanted to play in British football and watched his fellow Dutchman Van Dijk boost his career from Celtic to Southampton and then elite level with Liverpool.

He said: "I have always had good feelings about Scotland. Virgil was someone who came to Scotland before going to England when I was a young player and he made an amazing career.