Bersant primed for Ipswich reunion
Bersant Celina has warned Swansea City not to underestimate old club Ipswich Town when the sides meet at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Swans star Celina spent last season on loan at Portman Road, scoring eight goals in 35 appearances in an Ipswich shirt as the Suffolk club finished 12th in the Championship.
Celina’s former team head to Wales still looking for their first win in the Championship this season, with six draws and five defeats in their 11 league games so far.
But despite Ipswich’s struggles, Celina believes Paul Hurst’s side should not be underestimated.
“They have not had the best of starts but I know they are a team who work really hard,” the Kosovan international said.
“I am looking forward to seeing some of the boys I played with once again this weekend.
“Luke Chambers is a great captain and gets them all working really hard. Even if they are not getting the results they want at the moment, we should not underestimate any team.
“It is going to be another difficult game and we have to make sure we go into it like any other and focus on getting three points.”
Celina is in line to make his 10th Swans appearance on Saturday after returning after an ankle injury to feature against QPR and Wigan this week.
The midfielder, who joined the Swans from Manchester City in the summer, believes his stint as an Ipswich player helped prepare him for his switch to the Liberty.
“My time at Ipswich helped me develop a lot,” he said. “It was a different kind of football compared to what we play here.
“I learned the other side of the game and had a great manager who trusted me. I was a good year for me and, if it was not for that season at Ipswich, I don’t think I would be at Swansea today.
“There is no doubt my time at Ipswich helped prepare me for the move to Swansea.
“I am always grateful for my time at Ipswich. The players, manager and fans were great to me. I am looking forward to playing against them but of course I want to help the Swans win.”
