‘It’s going to take a little time to settle’ – Millwall boss Gary Rowett on Zian Flemming adjusting to Championship football

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has underlined that patience will be required as Zian Flemming adjusts to the rigours of English football.

The Lions broke their transfer record to sign the attacker from Fortuna Sittard this summer.

Flemming played alongside Benik Afobe at the weekend in Millwall’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.

Rowett told the South London Press: “Playing as a number 10 is probably his natural role, and he can play as a main striker or in a front three.

“What I’ve seen, and I’ve seen it in training, is all the attributes of a top player in there. He’s 23, he’s young. What we’ve seen in pre-season, like any player particularly coming into the Championship from a different country, it’s going to take a little bit of time to settle – and that’s fine, we expect that. We know that is going to happen.

“You don’t just come into the Championship and find it easy straight away. I think virtually every player who comes from abroad will remark how different the Championship is.

“I’ve tried to mix it up for him a little bit to try and see where he will be most effective for us.  Saturday was just another option to play him as one of the two strikers, George Honeyman as the 10 and have a slightly different number 10 in there who will run and press. As we know, in the Championship that is going to be as important as quality on the ball.”