BRIGHTON BOSS Roberto De Zerbi believes Irish teenager Evan Ferguson has the potential to become “a great striker”.
The 18-year-old produced an influential display on his full Premier League debut, registering a goal and an assist as the Seagulls beat Everton 4-1.
“I’m happy for Evan, he played a fantastic game,” De Zerbi said.
“He has big potential and I think he can help us in the second part of the season. With Danny Welbeck, he can be very important as our strikers. Evan could become a great striker because he has all the qualities, both physical and technical.
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“It was a mature performance by Evan. My job is to give him and the other young players the possibility to play. Sarmiento played a good game too and I want to progress with young players.”
De Zerbi has guided the Seagulls to eighth in the league having taken over from Graham Potter in September and his side were organised and effective — everything Everton were not.
“We have to improve. We have to ask ourselves for more. In the second half it was a different quality of play, the second half was amazing,” he said.
“We played with more energy to score more goals and I’m sad only for the Everton goal. Our improvement is to find the right mentality.
“We can’t concede the goal of Everton in that moment. The goal changed nothing today but it can change in the end of the season for example.”
"He can become a great striker." 💬 RDZ reacts to Evan's impressive performance. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FgeDC3JlR9
To compound a miserable night for Brighton’s opponents Everton, Nathan Patterson left Goodison on crutches with his right knee in a brace and Lampard confirmed the defender had sustained a medial ligament injury.
Patterson’s misfortune will likely mean an extended run of games in the starting XI for Irish international Seamus Coleman, who replaced the injured Scot just after the hour mark.
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'He can become a great striker' - Brighton boss praises Irish teenager Ferguson
BRIGHTON BOSS Roberto De Zerbi believes Irish teenager Evan Ferguson has the potential to become “a great striker”.
The 18-year-old produced an influential display on his full Premier League debut, registering a goal and an assist as the Seagulls beat Everton 4-1.
“I’m happy for Evan, he played a fantastic game,” De Zerbi said.
“He has big potential and I think he can help us in the second part of the season. With Danny Welbeck, he can be very important as our strikers. Evan could become a great striker because he has all the qualities, both physical and technical.
“It was a mature performance by Evan. My job is to give him and the other young players the possibility to play. Sarmiento played a good game too and I want to progress with young players.”
De Zerbi has guided the Seagulls to eighth in the league having taken over from Graham Potter in September and his side were organised and effective — everything Everton were not.
“We have to improve. We have to ask ourselves for more. In the second half it was a different quality of play, the second half was amazing,” he said.
“We played with more energy to score more goals and I’m sad only for the Everton goal. Our improvement is to find the right mentality.
“We can’t concede the goal of Everton in that moment. The goal changed nothing today but it can change in the end of the season for example.”
To compound a miserable night for Brighton’s opponents Everton, Nathan Patterson left Goodison on crutches with his right knee in a brace and Lampard confirmed the defender had sustained a medial ligament injury.
Patterson’s misfortune will likely mean an extended run of games in the starting XI for Irish international Seamus Coleman, who replaced the injured Scot just after the hour mark.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
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evan ferguson nathan patterson Potential Roberto De Zerbi team:Brighton & Hove Albion (Football 69) Ireland Republic