Just before the crucial doubleheader against France and Holland, EVAN Ferguson’s injury forced him to retire, throwing the Republic of Ireland off balance.
Without the cutting edge the 18-year-old gives them, Ireland lacks the punch to seriously threaten the Group B top dogs. The Brighton striker, one of only eight Republic players in the Premier League, had scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United.
They are currently second-to-last after losing both games, barely above winless Gibraltar, and Ferguson was as sad as anyone that he was unable to attend.
He remarked, “I was looking forward to playing the two games because it was such a large window.
“The injury prevented me from acting, which held me back. I recently returned to rehab and tried to become in shape. I watched the two games, which had two excellent performances, and I’m eager for the two games we have coming up.
The Meath native is hoping to make up for lost time against Greece in Dublin on Friday and Gibraltar in Faro, Spain, on Monday. He is now fully fit.
No matter what has transpired, he remarked, “as a striker you want to score in any game.”
“I’m just waiting for Friday’s game, and then we’ll see what we can do.”
According to some experts, the Barcelona wonderkid Gavi is the most valuable adolescent player in the world (worth E65 million), but the soft-spoken striker doesn’t seem to notice that fact.
He claims that much of what is reported in the media is simply talk.
I won’t let it impact me if I can’t control it because I have no control over it.
He is considerably more excited about the possibility of representing Ireland at the Aviva for the 2028 European Championships than he is about the value some web reporter has placed on him. The tournament will be co-hosted by Ireland and Britain, and if Ferguson keeps improving, he will be one of the stars of the event.
“I think it would be an unbelievable experience for anyone, any of the Irish boys in their home town, their home country,” he claims.
To host it, in my opinion, would be an incredible feeling.
Andy Moran, Ferguson’s Seagulls teammate, is another talent who aspires to be a seasoned international by 2028. Moran, a goal-scoring midfielder presently on loan at Blackburn Rovers, is causing a stir at the Championship team.
“He has been doing well,” Ferguson said.
You can see through the media that Moran has been performing well, that he has been playing, and that he had that Carabao Cup game last week (Moran scored two goals and assisted on two more in the 5-2 victory over Cardiff). I believe that if he continues to perform well and establish himself in the Championship, a very competitive division, he may return and possibly be given the chance at Brighton.
It’s difficult to get into and play in the Premier League because it’s the top league and everyone wants to play there. You observe Andy departing for the Championship and succeeding. He might have a chance to return and then decide how to proceed.
