Wolves’ strongarm left-back Jelle van Damme today vowed there is plenty more to come after admitting there is a world of difference between Belgium and English football.

Six years on from his aborted time at Southampton which ended after just a season, the giant left-back is still adjusting to the more robust style of play in the Premier League.

But, after giving up the chance to play Champions League this season and waiting so long for his £2.5m move from Anderlecht to go through, the 26-year-old has the experience and know-how to overcome any early hiccups.

Van Damme has cut an impressive figure in the two pre-season friendlies so far and, as he prepares for his first return to Belgium with tomorrow night’s friendly against Charleroi, he is confident he can make the transition.

“Football can be a simple game but it depends on how you want to play it,” said the versatile 6ft 3in defender.

“I think it’s just a matter of time – getting used to the team, the training sessions, the tactics and the games.

“I still have some adapting to do to get used to the players in this team because it’s a different style of play from what I’m used to.

“The system is different – I’m not used to playing 4-4-2 because I’m used to playing 4-3-3.

“At my previous team there were a lot of players who liked to have the ball at their feet – I remember picking out Andy Keogh with such a ball against Bohemians and that’s what I used to do at Anderlecht, look for the ball ‘between the lines’ (defence and midfield) because those are the difficult balls to defend.

“But here the players prefer to have the ball to run on to.

“I can also see it in training — sometimes I want to go for a one-two to set me up so I can get to the byline.

“But then myself and another player will both be running off the ball to the byline!

“So I have to adapt to the other players and they have to adapt to me.

“It’s not a massive difference and it’s not a big deal, but any new signing needs time to adapt and it will come from training sessions and games.

“It’s just a question of getting to know each other and how we’re playing and getting a mix of the two.

“For me it’s just a matter of getting to know how the players play as quickly as possible by playing a lot together.”

Van Damme has so far only had a couple of cameos in gold and black, 70 minutes against Bohemians followed by 20 against Walsall.

But, after shackling Bohs winger Lee Dixon in Ireland with something to spare and marking his introduction with a shuddering sliding tackle at the Banks’s Stadium, he has certainly put down a marker.

“This is just the start for me – I just have to get my levels of fitness and performance up, as does the team,” said the Belgium international.

“We’ve only played two friendlies, but everything suggests to me that things are going well.”

Van Damme believes the superb team spirit he has found on the training pitches at Compton will stand Wolves in good stead.

“I think the excellent team spirit here can only help new players settle in,” he said.

“It’s a good club with a great bunch of guys who all work for each other, which is the first aim.

“You can see it on the pitch – everyone wants to run and work for each other and that starts from the gaffer because that’s what he wants.

“That’s important for when you get on the pitch because everyone should have the same aim.

“We’ve got to go for it as a team.

“If you can be part of a good group, the individual qualities will come out as well.”

And, as Wolves prepare to return to Van Damme’s homeland, the former Anderlecht man has tipped the club’s two Belgium imports – Adlene Guedioura and Geoffrey Mujangi Bia – to blossom in the Premier League this season.

“I think they can both do well and Adlene has already shown it,” he said.

“Geoffrey can make a difference because he’s an individual, especially if he gets the time and space.

“He’s still young and he needs a bit more experience, but the only way he’s going to get that is by playing games. Adlene has already had a good six months here – he played quite a few games and had a hand in a few goals.

“I didn’t know them personally before, but I know them from playing against them.

“They’re both good players who have a lot of qualities and from what I’ve seen from them in Belgium and here, they’ve improved a lot.

“That’s to be expected because if you come here from Belgium, everything is a bit harder and faster.

“The one thing you must do is improve because the league is much harder here than in Belgium.”