2 days Ago By Neil O'Riordan
EVAN FERGUSON has been told that he does not have anything to prove ahead of an expected first start in six months. But Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has reminded the Ireland striker that he has to fit into the Seagulls’ style of play. Ferguson , 19, has not started a game for his club since March when he played an hour of their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
He was subsequently picked by Ireland for the two friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland later that month, missing a penalty in the first . After a seven-minute runout against Liverpool at the end of that month, he was ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury which required surgery. Ferguson got his first taste of action this term in the final five minutes against Ipswich Town and Hurzeler confirmed the Meath man is chomping at the bit for a start.
He is likely to get that against Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night but Hurzeler said there is more an onus on him to show he can adapt to his requirements rather than prove his worth. Hurzeler said: “He doesn’t have to show me what he can do because I know what his potential is, I saw a lot of games from him already in the past when he played for Brighton. "He’s a great finisher in the box.
He has the whole package for a striker. "For me it’s important he integrates into our style of play, that he follows our principles. “That’s the most important for me and he doesn’t have to prove anything to me.
“He should do his work on the pitch in possession, out of possession. "He should help the team and then he will have a great impact on our game for sure.” In Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first two games in charge of Ireland, Ferguson was brought on for the final eight minutes against England and was given 27 minutes against Iceland.
But the Icelander said he expected the former St Kevin’s and Bohemians forward to be more up to speed next month when Ireland face Finland and Greece in an away double-header..
