Injury blow for Evan Ferguson as Ireland striker ruled out of summer friendlies
Evan Ferguson has picked up another injury. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Evan Ferguson will not play any part in Ireland’s friendly games in June under a caretaker manager as the forward has been ruled out for the rest of this season by his club.
Ferguson has missed the last three games for Brighton and will not feature in Thursday’s meeting with champions Manchester City as he has been struggling with an ankle injury.
The Seagulls were uncertain how serious that injury was but boss Roberto de Zerbi confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Ferguson, “felt pain in the ankle a lot of time and he tried to move on, to play with pain. But at the end he preferred to stop and to think about next season.”
Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 24th April
It will be a disappointing end to a difficult season for Ferguson, who was on a run of 23 games for club and country without a goal.
He was unable to find the net for Ireland in the March games against Belgium and Switzerland and played just once more for his club after that, as a late sub in a defeat to Liverpool.
Ferguson’s absence will be an added headache for Ireland’s interim manager – likely to be John O’Shea – for friendlies in June at home to Hungary and away to Portugal.
Gavin Bazunu, John Egan and Jayson Molumby are all out long-term while Chiedozie Ogbene has not featured for Luton Town since he played for Ireland against Belgium last month and is a major doubt.
Players like Troy Parrott and Alan Browne have also battled with injury this season and may have difficulty in gaining a release for international duty from their clubs.
FAI Director of Football Marc Canham said last week that the association planned to ask O’Shea to take interim charge again for the Hungary/Portugal double header.
