DOUGIE Freedman believes homesickness has spoiled Marvin Sordell’s start at Bolton Wanderers.

The England Under-21 star looked poised to leave the club on loan this week – with Peterborough United among the clubs linked with his services – after failing to hold down a regular place in the team since his big- money move from Watford in January.

Fans have grown frustrated by his lack of opportunities but Freedman insists he has not sought to tout the striker’s wares elsewhere and is now working hard off the field to ease him back into the first-team fold.

London lad Sordell has found life difficult away from his family in the capital but the new Wanderers boss is now hoping a spot of TLC can see him realise the potential that prompted his predecessor Owen Coyle to splash the cash.

“What has happened to the kid is that he's moved up from London and he hasn’t been given any game time,” Freedman said.

“When that happened he got very down on himself. But we’re working very hard with Marvin now because he’s very talented and a very good finisher. We just need to get him a bit fitter and he’ll get an opportunity here.

“He’s homesick. There isn’t even a fancy word for it.”

After making only three substitute appearances in four months at the end of last season under Coyle, Sordell was briefly brought into the team this season and scored his first goal for the club against Nottingham Forest before being benched again.

And that harsh treatment – coupled with the much-publicised troubles on Twitter and a police investigation into abuse aimed at him at Millwall – has given the manager food for thought as he tries to get the young front man back in the right frame of mind.

“We’ve got him working in a few ways,” explained Freedman. “He’s mentoring a few of the kids in the education side of the club and he’s working very hard at his game.

“I think he realises that if he works hard on the training field that he’ll get his opportunities.

“Under the previous manager he didn’t play, which didn’t help, so I have told him that I’d compromise – if he steps up his intensity in training and shows me his attitude and hard work, then he’ll get an opportunity.

“So far he has done that, he’s had a couple of weeks of it, but he’s a million miles from being sent out on loan now.”

Freedman acknowledges the supporters’ disappointment that they have not been able to see more of the player, who at £3.2million could be in danger of being branded an expensive mistake.

“I can understand that and I agree with them,” he added, “The problem he has is because he hasn’t played a lot of games he’s nowhere near match fit.

“I have worked very hard with him and he played for the Under-21s the other night and did pretty well over 90 minutes.

“I reckon a couple more games and he’ll be up to speed to step into the team.”