Roy Keane says he is excited to see more of young Brighton star Evan Ferguson after he scored on his full debut for Ireland.
18-year-old Ferguson is enjoying a fantastic breakthrough season with Brighton, having scored seven goals and made three assists in just 16 appearances across all competitions.
His efforts have helped the Seagulls reach the semi-finals and up to seventh in the Premier League table, with European football looking like a real possibility for next season.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side are seven points off Tottenham in fourth, but having played three games less than Spurs they also have a decent charge of qualifying for the .
The teenage striker has now also made his mark on the international scene having made his Republic of Ireland debut at the end of last year.
He was handed his first start for his country on Wednesday night as Ireland hosted Latvia in a friendly, and he wasted no time in Dublin, scoring his first international goal after just 17 minutes in a 3-2 win.
Whole he may only be starting his career, Ferguson is already considered to be Ireland’s next superstar player, something the country haven’t had for many years.
And his performances have certainly caught the eye of former Ireland and Manchester United captain Keane, who was asked about Ferguson during a live show of The Overlap in Dublin on Thursday.
‘When a young player like that comes along you’ve got to get excited. But you’ve got to give the kid a chance to mature,’ the former midfielder said.
‘Playing week in, week out in the Premiership is going to take its toll. But when you turn up for big matches, international matches, when you’re just playing in the Championship, it can be very, very difficult.
‘It’s been a great start for him though, I’m delighted for him. He seems like a nice kid.’
Ferguson is expected to once again lead the line when Ireland kick-off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign against France on Monday night.
The Boys in Green haven’t played at a major tournament since Euro 2016 and face an uphill battle to get to next year’s finals with the qualification group featuring France, the Netherlands, Greece and Gilbraltar.
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