Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has threatened to axe any player less than fully committed in friendlies after Christophe Berra admitted some performances have been ‘rubbish’ in pre-season.

Now 16 days before the big kick-off, the team go into Saturday’s friendly at Doncaster on the back of three successive defeats to lower division opposition.

But Scotland international Berra believes the players will be ready for the curtain-raiser against West Ham on August 15.

He said: “You know in some friendlies, some players are rubbish, but some players change completely when there’s points to be played for.

“I know it’s pre-season and no one wants to get injured, but if the ball is there to be won, you want to be fully committed because the gaffer has said if we’re not, we won’t play.

“He demands commitment and the players know that and I don’t see anyone pulling out of tackles. He demands we work hard and give our all and we’ll do that.

“We’ve got the type of players who all work hard and always give 100 per cent. We’re young and hungry and we want to prove ourselves at the next level, which is staying in the Premier League.”

Berra believes Wolves will get much sharper in the countdown to the big kick-off.

He said: “We need to work on a few things and sharpen up. I’m sure that will come.

“We’re not the only team going through this, so hopefully we can make another improvement in our performances on Saturday against Doncaster.

“We’ve got another two or three friendlies before the season starts, so we’ve got time to improve before the first game.”