JELLE VAN DAMME is set for his first Saints start tonight in the Carling Cup at Northampton - and is aiming to channel his frustration at not playing into a selection headache for head coach Steve Wigley.

The Belgian, who was signed from Ajax during the summer for £2.5m, looks likely to replace Graeme Le Saux (foot injury) at left-back

"I've been waiting a few weeks and I'm looking forward to playing and doing well," said Van Damme.

"This season has been tough for me. It's been frustrating because I came here to play as many games as possible.

"The last two games I wasn't in the squad. I have my national team and I'm coming up to 21 and I'm coming to an age when I need to play.

"You know there will be a chance and maybe this game is the chance for me to show myself.

"I just want to play every game. I just hope I play a good match, but I want to make the choice as difficult as possible for the gaffer."

Van Damme is Saints' fourth most expensive-ever signing, but his appearances have so far been limited to a brief spell in the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

"The hardest thing has been watching the games from the stand in the Premier League," he said.

"That is why you do it for these games. I played some Champions League games against Arsenal, they are the games you are training and working for."

Although Van Damme admits he does not know too much about Northampton, he is well aware of the dangers that lower-division opposition can bring.

"All I know is that they are in Division Two, but I know for sure it will be a difficult game," he said. "It is the same in Holland and Belgium that sometimes the smaller teams can get wins against the bigger team.

"It's going to be difficult but we just have to play football. You have to be careful as sometimes these games can be very dangerous. We have to play to give ourselves more confidence, we need a win that's for sure."

Van Damme added that all the upheaval off the pitch regarding changes to the coaching staff had not bothered him. "For me personally I haven't any problems with it," he said. "For the moment he (Wigley) is our gaffer. He will get his licence soon. I don't know too much about it, but I think he will be here for this season and more seasons."

Wigley is still weighing up the identity of a new coaching assistant amid concern that he could lose his job by Christmas due to not having the UEFA pro-licence.

Birmingham City will be without the services of on-loan Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell for up to six weeks after the Finnish international underwent knee surgery today.

That will rule him out of the game at St Mary's on October 24.

Forssell was a massive success for Blues in 2003-2004, scoring 19 goals in all competitions.