The Latvian, who was initially thought to be retiring at the end of last season, has signed back on at the Bretton club.

And after impressing in a four-month spell last season during which he hit 40 points from just 19 games, that is great news for the city outfit.

But according to the man himself, his best is yet to come and 30 year-old Ziedins believes that given a full season free from injury he will establish himself as a major force in the English Premier League.

"I always said that if I were to continue playing hockey that it would be in Peterborough with the Phantoms," said Ziedins.

"The fans are awesome and the players and all the other people around the club are all great too and when I knew I would be playing again it just had to be back with the Phantoms.

"Last season I think I did okay but this time around I know I can be a lot more effective and contribute far more.

"Coming in half-way through with no pre-season training maybe meant I was not at my best straight away and of course I got injured again which did set me back."

Ziedins missed a number of games after suffering a fractured jaw in the New Year while a knee injury sustained later on in the campaign meant the forward had to sit out further fixtures towards the end of the season.

But fit and healthy once more after spending summer training in his hometown of Talsi in west Latvia, Ziedins is determined to show what he can do over a full 54-game league season.

He added: "I feel better than I have done for a long time and will be fully healthy this season. Last season was good and we won a trophy but this season I expect to do even better and really show the fans what I am capable of.

"I now have some valuable experience of English hockey and am familiar with playing alongside what looks like a pretty unchanged group which are all advantages for me and the team.

"Fourth place was our target last season and we hit that despite a poor start to our campaign but I am sure we have the team to be in the top three this time around – no doubt about that. The key will be in starting well and winning games from day one.

"Phantoms have a great potential to win trophies and I am really looking forward to coming back and playing a big part in making that happen."

Ziedins expects to be back in the UK for pre-season by the end of August.