Mick McCarthy insists Belgium defender Jelle van Damme is committed to being a success at Wolves despite suffering from homesickness.

Van Damme admits he has not yet settled in England following his £2.5m move from Anderlecht during the summer, with his wife still in his native country expecting their second child.

The 26-year-old has also been hit by injury setbacks which have meant him struggling to make an impact on the pitch.

But McCarthy is adamant the player is desperate to succeed at Molineux ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Wigan.

McCarthy said: “I moved to play for Lyon, and I had all my family with me, and it was still not easy to settle in and have all the comforts you had in your previous home.

“Jelle is just having a tough time settling in, that’s all, away from the club.

“He loves the club, training, the fans, the team. He has had a few injuries, his wife is back home in Belgium having a baby, she won’t be here to January.

“Is it unusual that someone would find that a bit unsettling when all those things are going on?

“He is delighted with the club and the football and he likes being here and he wants to play.”

McCarthy added: “It is so easy for someone to say ‘how can a footballer who gets paid all that money be homesick?’ Jelle is a human being like anyone else. He suffers the same emotions.

“We try and care of him the best we can. But the first thing to do is to reassure everyone that his focus is to get back in the team and play well for Wolves.”