Zian Flemming Excited for Premier League Return with Ipswich Town

Zian Flemming felt the jolt the moment he saw the fixture list.

Liverpool. Friday night. Live under the lights.

“That’s when I thought, ‘yeah, I’m really back in the Prem,’” the new Ipswich Town signing admitted as he looked ahead to a possible debut against Jürgen Klopp’s side at Portman Road.

The 28-year-old forward arrived from Burnley on deadline day in a £20m deal, stepping straight back into the division that both thrilled and stung him last season. He hit 11 league goals for the Clarets in his first Premier League campaign, a strong return that still wasn’t enough to keep them up.

That split feeling – personal success, collective failure – is driving him now.

“For me it’s just pure excitement,” Flemming said. “This move for me to go back to the Premier League – I’m happy with that.”

He spoke with an edge of impatience, like someone who has already spent too long watching from the bottom of the mountain.

“I just get a sensation of excitement for challenges,” he explained. “Whether it’s a personal or a team challenge it brings something to life inside of me to take it on.

“Last season I managed to come out on top of the personal challenge to become a Premier League player but lost out on the team challenge and stay in the league.”

Ipswich are betting that this time his goals and his obsession with improvement can tilt both battles in the same direction.

Flemming knows exactly where he wants to be.

“I’d like to be at the bottom of the mountain and look up and wonder what it is like at the top,” he said. “Then, get my head down and see how far I can get and see whether I can reach the top.”

Liverpool at home is some first step.