WOLVES defender Jelle van Damme has claimed he could return to Anderlecht in January after struggling to settle in England.

The former Saints defender joined Wolves this summer from Anderlecht but has been limited to four appearances because of injury.

His wife, who is expecting their second child, has stayed behind in Belgium, and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admitted last week the 26-year-old was suffering from homesickness.

McCarthy insisted Van Damme - who cost Saints a whopping £2m back in the summer of 2004 - was committed to staying at Molineux but the player himself gave a somewhat different story to press in Belgium.

He said: "The coach (McCarthy) has asked me: 'If you had the choice to return to Anderlecht, would you do it?' I have answered, 'Yes'.

"In January, if we see that things are not possible between Wolverhampton and me, we will remain good friends."

Anderlecht have not had the best start to the Jupiler League season and fans were chanting Van Damme's name after the 5-1 defeat by Standard Liege on Sunday.

He added: "I've heard something about that, but that changes nothing. Do I regret that I left? Regret is a big word. At that moment, Anderlecht and I just made a choice."

Saints received around £300,000 when van Damme left Anderlect to sign for Wolves, as a sell on clause was inserted when the player left St Mary's in 2006.