Virgil van Dijk has heaped praise on international team-mate Jurrien Timber, insisting the 21-year-old is better than he was at the same age. 

The Liverpool star lines up alongside Timber in the Holland defence, with both playing 90 minutes at centre half and keeping a clean sheet in their 2-0 win in Poland in the Nations League on Thursday.

And Van Dijk, widely considered one of the best defenders in the world, labelled the Ajax prodigy as a 'true professional', adding he has 'nothing but praise' for his international team-mate.

Virgil van Dijk (left) has heaped praise on Holland team-mate Jurrien Timber (second right), insisting the defender is better than he was at the same age

He said: 'I wasn't nearly as far along as he is now (at the same age). I have nothing but praise for him. He is a great player and a true professional.

'He has so much potential. Hopefully he can develop further. Then it will be all right, I think.' 

Nine-cap international Timber broke through at Ajax under Erik ten Hag, who after moving to Manchester United this summer tried to bring his former player, rated at £40million by the Dutch side, to Old Trafford as well.

But after Holland and former United manager Louis van Gaal warned the player his spot at the winter World Cup might be in danger with a potential lack of game time at United, the move fell through. 

Fans of the Premier League side then blasted Timber as a 'clown' after he appeared to troll them by posting 'still here' alongside a picture of himself at Ajax after turning down the transfer.

Timber's emergence is putting pressure on Van Dijk and others including Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij and Daley Blind who are looking for a starting spot in Van Gaal's three-man defence for the tournament, which begins in November.