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Aaron Connolly celebrates after scoring in September. PA

Connolly in line for Brighton return, as Potter hails 17-year-old striker Evan Ferguson

The Seagulls boss has urged patience though, as Ferguson hits prolific heights with the academy.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND international Aaron Connolly is in line for a return to the Brighton & Hove Albion matchday squad for Saturdayโ€™s Premier League meeting with Southampton.

Seagulls boss Graham Potter has hinted that the 21-year-old striker could be included following an injury to Adam Lallana.

The former Liverpool man, Adam Webster and Jeremy Sarmietnto all sustained knocks in Tuesdayโ€™s 1-1 draw with West Ham, but Potter has played down injury fears, insisting he has plenty of cover for the Saints showdown.

Galway man Connolly is someone Potter will look to, after a frustrating, stop-start campaign which saw him ruled out of most recent international window.

A heel injury ultimately sidelined him, though Boys In Green boss Stephen Kenny addressed some other concerns at the time.

โ€œWe were hoping to get some minutes into him with the U23s, but it looks like he will be with the group come the weekend,โ€ Potter said of Connolly, as quoted by The Argus.

โ€œWe are still in the process of checking on everyone and recovering. We will make some decisions [on Friday] if we need some of the U23s then, of course, we will use them, but at the moment, it doesnโ€™t look like we will need to.โ€

evan-ferguson Evan Ferguson training with the Ireland U21s. Brian Reilly-Troy / INPHO Brian Reilly-Troy / INPHO / INPHO

One of the brightest stars of that U23 side is Irish teenager Evan Ferguson.

The former Bohemians striker has been lighting it up, scoring eight goals in 14 games, including a brace against the Crystal Palace U23s.

While Potter recognised the Irish U21 internationalโ€™s โ€œhuge potential,โ€ he urged patience as noise heightens for the Dublinerโ€™s inclusion amongst first-team striking options.

โ€œEvan is 17-years-old and has to be a little more patient with that,โ€ the boss told The Argus separately this week. โ€œClearly, he is a guy we know well, and we like a lot. I think he needs to allow himself to grow and develop as a footballer, but his potential is huge.โ€


The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud

Bernard Jackman, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey discuss an insane week for Munster, Ulsterโ€™s impressive win over Leinster and ask can Connacht repeat their feat from earlier this year and win at the same ground?

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Feb 17th 2023, 9:57 PM

    Top of the league!

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    Feb 17th 2023, 10:43 PM

    @Brian Dunne: Relegation six pointer.

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    Feb 18th 2023, 5:32 AM

    @Brian Dunne: of course youโ€™re a Bohs fanโ€ฆfigures!

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    Feb 18th 2023, 6:36 AM

    @Damien Leen: and very proud of it sunshine.

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    Feb 17th 2023, 10:47 PM

    2nd goal was calamity from City. Keepers wonโ€™t wana see that again.

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    Feb 17th 2023, 10:06 PM

    Cork rubbish on the night. Long season ahead unless big improvement

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    Feb 17th 2023, 10:25 PM

    @Maurice Dinan: Occasion got to them. Hopefully they can show they are better than that performance. Young team and can only get better.

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    Feb 18th 2023, 1:28 AM

    How long until this version of cork fold?

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