06 March 2023 , 06:00
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Evan Ferguson joked that he would rather find the back of the net than win a match after he was unable to add to rampant Brighton’s tally against West Ham.
But Albion’s teenage striker appears destined to add many more in the coming months after cementing a starting role for Roberto de Zerbi’s high-flyers. “Scoring a goal,” the 18-year-old replied with a wry smile after being asked to choose personal glory or three points.
It was easy to joke on an afternoon when a quartet of those operating behind him got on the scoresheet to continue Brighton’s unlikely push towards a European place. De Zerbi’s side are now seven points off fourth-place Tottenham with games in hand and they host League Two Grimsby in an FA Cup quarter-final.
Ferguson insists it is simply an old-fashioned case of staying humble and “sticking to the game plan, take it game by game” but the excitement around him at home in Ireland is becoming fevered.
He is a shoo-in to make his first international start in the Euro 2024 qualifier against France later this month having made two substitute appearances in November friendlies that technically means he is still eligible to declare for England because of his mother.
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There is no prospect of him following in the footsteps of Declan Rice and Jack Grealish though.
And already the Dubliner is being built up at home as the long-awaited successor to Robbie Keane in a team that, not too dissimilar to Brighton before De Zerbi arrived in September, has struggled for goals.
“I’ve seen bits, stuff coming up on Twitter and that, but I don’t pay too much attention to it. It’s all talk,” he said of the rocketing expectations before underplaying the prospect of making a first international start against the World Cup finalists.
Roberto de Zerbi'steam are flying high. (PA)“I’ve not heard anything about it. It’s still a few weeks away so you have to wait and see. Hopefully I get called up for the camp and then see what happens.”
The fact Irish boss Stephen Kenny has echoed De Zerbi’s description of Ferguson as a “unique” talent indicates that he is a dead cert to lead the line for country as well as club. “He’s the first manager to give me a chance to play and I’ve got to thank him for that,” Ferguson added of De Zerbi. “And the system suits me.”
Being able to learn from an experienced figure such as Danny Welbeck has helped, with the former England striker often pulling Ferguson aside in training to offer advice.
“We’ve got a good relationship,” he said. “It’s not like if I’m playing he won’t talk to me for a week. I’m learning from him. He’s a good person to get advice from. Just little bits in training every day. If I do something that isn’t right he gives me some different options.”