Virgil Van Dijk has given Evan Ferguson his backing to become a big player for Ireland over the coming years.
The Liverpool defender knows all about the qualities of a good striker, having regularly come up against the best in the world while playing for club and country.
However, Van Dijk won't have to deal with Ferguson at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday night, as the Brighton forward was ruled out of both of Ireland's games in this international window through injury.
This was a shame for all Ireland supporters who wanted to see how the 18-year-old would perform in green, on the back of scoring his first Premier League hat-trick last weekend.
Virgil Van Dijk on Evan Ferguson
"If you score a hat-trick just before the international break, then he was definitely going to be in a good shape and full of confidence," Van Dijk told reporters at the Aviva Stadium, when asked about Ferguson.
"He looks like he’s a promising striker for Ireland for now and the future, and that’s definitely a big blow for them. But whoever is going to play tomorrow for them, we have to be ready to fight."
Ireland strikers
Ferguson's emergence has rightly excited Ireland supporters, who have been starved of a top-class striker since Robbie Keane retired in 2016.
Goalscorers have been few and far between for Ireland over the decades, with the Keane era bridging a gap to some big names from Jack Charlton's days as manager.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman remembers that group all too well, having played against them at three major tournaments.
Ronald Koeman recalls Ireland clashes
"At that time, they were really strong with good strikers – (John) Aldridge, (Frank) Stapleton, I think – and the coach was famous, Jack Charlton.
"That has changed, of course. They have now more younger players – they need time – they don’t have a lot of Irish players I heard of playing in the Premier League and that makes it really difficult for the coach."
Ireland will need to pick up three points against the Dutch on Sunday if they want to keep their Euro 2024 qualifying hopes alive, and according to the team we'd like to see line out, Adam Idah will bear much of the goalscoring responsibility in the absence of Ferguson.
