Millwall boss backing Zian Flemming to get back to his best after ‘difficult’ summer of transfer speculation

Millwall boss Gary Rowett is confident that Zian Flemming is not far away from getting back to his best for the club after a summer full of transfer speculation.

Our paper reported in July that the Lions had rejected four bids from Premier League new boys Burnley.

The 25-year-old attacker scored 15 goals and picked up three assists in his debut campaign for the South Londoners after arriving from Fortuna Sittard last summer.

Amsterdam-born Fleming has started the first two Championship outings this season alongside summer signing Kevin Nisbet.

“Players are human beings first and foremost – they have families,” Rowett told the South London Press. “It’s always difficult when you get that speculation and a couple of offers come in.

“It’s impossible as a player not to think about it or have it on your mind.

“He’s an ambitious footballer who has done well for us and wants to be in the Premier League, with or without us.

“We have got past that, I think. He has settled back down into being that bit more focused. It might take a few more games, but it won’t be long, in my opinion, before we see Zian back to his best.

“He’s such an important player for us and gives us so much in the team. We’re all working hard to get him back into a position where he can impact games more positively.”

After a win against last season’s play-off semi-finalists Middlesbrough on the opening day of the 2023-24 campaign, Millwall have suffered a 4-0 defeat to League One side Reading in the EFL Cup and fell to a late 1-0 defeat to Bristol City in the league.

“You want to see it straight away, but the reality is that it takes a bit of time when you have brought new players in sometimes,” said Rowett of his team gelling.

“There was a lot of positive about the Middlesbrough performance – it was as good as we have played for a long time away from home.

“A little bit of a reverse in the home game [against Bristol City] where we just didn’t really get going.

“Whether that was the emotion of the day? You would have to ask the players.

“But we expect a little bit more at home from our performances. We expect more energy, aggression and front-foot play.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how that develops and the team playing with a little bit more consistency.”