Republic of Ireland legend Kevin Kilbane believes Evan Ferguson will be key to Ireland's future success.
The teenage sensation has made the breakthrough at Brighton this season and with goals against Arsenal and Everton, he is well on his way to nailing down a place in the Seagull's attack.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes, Kilbane revealed that he is a huge fan of Ferguson. Furthermore, the former Wigan and Everton star also believes that the Bettystown star could be the heir apparent to Ireland's record goalscorer Robbie Keane.
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"I think right now we're looking at Evan Ferguson at Brighton when it comes to Ireland's hope for the future," Kevin Kilbane exclusively told Ladbrokes: Fanzone.
"He's scored in the last couple of weeks against Arsenal and has had a really bright start to his career with Brighton's senior team.
"He's one who we've kept a close eye on over the last few years since his time in Ireland, and I'm really pleased with the faith Brighton have shown in him.
"He's already producing for them, he's getting first-team football and has even forced himself into Brighton's starting line-up... so he's the one I'm looking at right now.
"We've not had a goalscorer - that's something everyone talks about - on an international stage since Robbie Keane."
One of the problems Ireland have had in recent years is that some of our brightest young stars haven't been playing at the highest level. Jason Knight is stuck in League One with Derby, while players like Troy Parrott have played for multiple clubs on loan unable to break into the Spurs team.
But Ferguson could well be the exception to this role. Playing in a Brighton side that is on the up under Roberto De Zerbi, Ireland centurion Kilbane is optimistic that Ferguson could go on to have a very successful career.
"The difficulty for us as Irish fans at the moment is that a lot of the players we're pinning our hopes on, if you like, are down the leagues, so there's still that uncertainty as to how they're going to develop in their careers.
"I think we've got the nucleus of something quite good, but ultimately I think Ferguson is the one who could go on and become a very, very good Premier League player.
"He's still very young, but he's one I'd be looking at and expecting to go far. He shares his surname, and if he goes on to achieve anything similar to what Duncan did, then Evan will have had a very good career.
"Evan doesn't need to be thinking about his next move, he's still so young and he's at a great club in Brighton where he's getting more and more exposure, they're putting a lot of trust in him and he's in a really good position there."
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