FLYNN Downes is itching to play regular football again and help Saints gain promotion back to the Premier League after a difficult first season at West Ham United.

The Hammers midfielder completed his much-anticipated loan move to Southampton last week before making his debut against QPR on Saturday.

After a bout of food poisoning which saw him lose a considerable amount of weight, Downes was surprised to be making his debut so soon.

Manager Russell Martin himself admitted the midfielder shouldn’t have played as much as he did, but an injury to captain Jack Stephens in the 25th minute necessitated the early change.

“When he told me to warm up I was a little bit like ‘Oh no here we go,’" Downes told the Daily Echo, reflecting on his maiden Saints appearance.

"I knew how I’d been feeling in the last few days of training - I was blowing.

"I was a bit nervous and a bit scared because I was worried if I was going to last. Having now got through that I feel a lot better for it."

Despite only arriving at Southampton earlier in the week, the 24 year old fell straight back into old habits.

His time working under Martin at Swansea during the 2021-22 season gave him the level of understanding required to be the midfield architect at such short notice.

“It 100 per cent felt like I was clicking back into the same system we had at Swansea," Downes added.

"The way we dominate the ball makes it a lot easier. When I first came on my bearings were all over the place.

"It was a bit weird and I don’t really know why. The way that we play suits me so much and I know the detail which helped massively.

“Having the ball is the best. That’s my style, I like dominating the game. I don’t want to be run over by the opposition.

“As a team that should be our goal. We should go anywhere and dominate the game by playing our way.

"That’s another reason why I love playing under Russell because he has that same mindset. He wants to go anywhere and play his way, that’s the best for me.”

Downes links back up with the former Scotland international on a season-long loan after what he describes as a tough first season at West Ham.

The Brentwood-born midfielder made a dream £12million move to his boyhood club in July 2022 after a fantastic campaign at Swansea.

First-team opportunities, however, were more sporadic under David Moyes. He only managed 753 minutes of Premier League football across 21 appearances, with just seven of those being starts.

Daily Echo: Southampton's Flynn Downes during the Championship match between Southampton and QPR at St Mary's Stadium. Photo by Stuart Martin.

That lack of consistent football was difficult for Downes to adjust to after becoming accustomed to being a key player under Martin in the Championship.

He explained: “I don’t think there is anything better than when you have got a bit of rhythm.

"Everyone can make excuses but it’s hard when you’re playing one week and then you’re not playing for a month or so. It’s so hard.

"You lose a little bits and bobs. You can run all you want to keep the fitness but you just lose something - every player will tell you the same.

“At Swansea before that, I was playing week in, week out and I felt like I was playing at my best. Hopefully, I can get back to that this season."

Although he didn't play as much football as he would have liked with the Hammers, he was able to help the club he grew up supporting win the Europa Conference League. 

Daily Echo:

“I think it’s big,” Downes insisted, when asked how much the experience of winning a European trophy will aid him as his new club's push for promotion.

“It’s moments like that where you feel the nerves and the pressure. There aren’t many stadiums where you feel the pressure more than at West Ham.

“I’ve experienced that now and it will help me a lot. I feel like I’ve experienced a lot in my 24 years.

"I just want to come here to Southampton and help the team and hopefully get us back into the Premier League."