It has been far from plain sailing of late for young Ireland and Brighton star Evan Ferguson.
The 19-year-old has been struggling for form and hasn't scored for the Premier League in exactly three months since their 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest away from home in November.
Ferguson had made an electric start to the season scoring in his club's opening day drubbing of newly promoted Luton Town, before bagging a hat-trick three weeks later in their 3-1 win against Newcastle.
That performance saw him become the third-youngest hat-trick scorer in Premier League history and earned him massive plaudits.
It even led to comparisons being made between him and Erling Haaland on Match of the Day with Gary Lineker comparing the Bettystown man to the Man City sensation.
"I don't want to get carried away but I do see a hint of Haaland about him," Lineker said.
"His stature and his movement and stuff like that. His youth, as well."
"I do see a hint of Haaland." 👀
"He's just getting better." 💪@GaryLineker and @IanWright0 are both big fans of Evan Ferguson 🙌#MOTD pic.twitter.com/VAurajHghD— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 2, 2023
Brighton manager makes interesting suggestion about Evan Ferguson
Despite that Ferguson has struggled to cement his place in Brighton's starting team and manager Roberto de Zerbi has shown him tough love in public in recent weeks.
That trend appeared to continue following Brighton's come from behind 1-1 draw against Everton at the Amex on Saturday afternoon. Ferguson started the game but was replaced after 75 minutes by Adam Lallana and hobbled off with an injury.
De Zerbi played down the injury when speaking afterwards but then seemed to make an interesting suggestion about Ferguson's mentality as the youngster struggles for form.
"He is good but is not spending the best period of his time," he said.
"We can help him and we can understand him because he is very young. He can play better. The team needs Evan, but Evan at 100% of his physical and mental condition.
"He played well but in small spaces in the last ten or twenty minutes I thought Adam Lallana could be more important than Evan."
Hopefully Ferguson will be able to fight back and get back amongst the goals for Brighton.
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