Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson earmarked himself as one of the most exciting young European strikers in the 2022/23 season.
He spearheaded the Seagulls to a sixth-place finish and Europa League qualification with ten goals and four assists in 34 appearances. He was voted Brighton’s Young Player of the Season.
His performances caught the attention of Premier League heavyweights such as Chelsea and Manchester United. However, things went pear-shaped last season.
The Republic of Ireland striker registered only six goals and an assist as his performances took a nosedive. He now needs to rediscover his spark for club and country.
Brighton are relying on Ferguson to fire them into contention for European qualification, while Ireland need him to spearhead their charge to the 2026 World Cup.
The odds are not in their favour with bookmakers rating Ireland as 1000/1 shots to lift the title but qualification should be possible if the young striker starts banging in goals again.
A confident Ferguson rediscovering his scoring prowess would send a wave of optimism through sports bettors on the Emerald Isle.
If he finds his shooting boots, online betting sites in Ireland would be inundated with punters willing to back the nation team to qualify for the World Cup.
However, Ferguson’s first priority will be to start scoring again for Brighton as they seek to put an underwhelming season behind them.
Brighton Need Ferguson to Bang in Goals
Ferguson’s recent struggles delivered a hammer-blow to Brighton’s attacking prowess. The Seagulls netted 72 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, but that total dropped to 55 last season.
Joao Pedro had a promising debut campaign, bagging nine goals in 31 Premier League appearances for Brighton, but four of those strikes were from the penalty spot.
Back-up striker Danny Welbeck recorded only five goals, just one behind Ferguson. These low numbers highlight a worrying lack of natural goalscorers in the Brighton squad.
If they can get Ferguson firing on all cylinders, Brighton will not just be competitive – they can be genuine contenders for one of the European slots after ending last season in 11th place.
His goals would ease the burden on other attacking players and inject a much-needed dose of confidence into the entire team under new manager Fabian Hurzeler.
The key for Hurzeler will be understanding the reasons behind Ferguson’s dip in form. Identifying the root cause will be crucial in crafting a plan to get Ferguson firing again.
Hurzeler must also create a nurturing environment that fosters confidence and allows Ferguson to express himself on the pitch.
He may need to tweak the system to better suit Ferguson. This could mean building the attack around Ferguson and an emphasis on providing him more service in dangerous areas.
Hurzeler’s success in getting the best out of Ferguson can be the catalyst that propels Brighton and the young Irish striker to new heights.
Ferguson can be Ireland’s Beacon of Hope
Despite his tender age, the Republic of Ireland will turn to Ferguson to deliver the goals as they aim to become relevant again in international football.
Ireland will be keen to see the striker rediscover his form at club level and translate this to international football.
His lack of confidence was especially evident in the 0-0 draw with Belgium in March as he failed to convert a penalty and another guilt-edge chance to win the game.
Ireland missed out on the 2024 European Championship, leading to the dismissal of manager Stephen Kenny. They failed to appear at a major tournament under him.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) hired Heimir Hallgrimsson earlier this month to replace Kenny, and his first main focus is to take the nation to the 2026 World Cup.
Hallgrimsson desperately needs Ferguson to bounce back from his second-season struggles and play a crucial role for Ireland as they bid for their first World Cup appearance since 2002.
