Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi says Evan Ferguson has all the qualities to become a great striker after the teenager struck his second Premier League goal in two games on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old Irishman was a major influence as the Seagulls stormed to a brilliant 4-1 at Goodison Park, firing home the second goal and having a hand in Solly March's third.
Ferguson, who came off the bench on New Year's Eve to grab a goal in the 4-2 loss to Arsenal, has now very much announced himself on the big stage, with De Zerbi backing him to go from strength to strength.
"I'm happy for Evan, he played a fantastic game," he told the club website.
"He has big potential and I think he can help us in the second part of the season. With Danny Welbeck, he can be very important as our strikers. Evan could become a great striker because he has all the qualities, both physical and technical.
"It was a mature performance by Evan."
Former Bray Wanderers midfielder Andrew Moran was introduced as a substitute to make his Premier League debut on what was a very good night all round from an Irish perspective.
Brighton have a string record of producing good young talent, and De Zerbi is keen to keep the conveyor belt rolling.
"My job is to give him and the other young players the possibility to play," he added.
"[Jeremy] Sarmiento played a good game too and I want to progress with young players.
"In the first half I didn't like the quality of our play in defensive spaces, but I can understand this, every Premier League game is difficult.
"But we asked more of ourselves and the second half was amazing, there was a different quality to our play - we played well. We played with more energy and scored more goals, I am only sad because of their goal.
"Their goal changed nothing today, but it could [do so] at the end of the season. But it is an important result and I am happy."
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Ferguson said he was "buzzing" to score in a second consecutive game.
"I think it's a lot better when you can go and celebrate and not go and just pick the ball up and getting straight back, so just buzzing, buzzing with the result and to get another goal.
"We came in at half-time, we knew we could do better, we knew we sort of had them so we just came out and tried to give our best and luckily the goals came through.
"It's a great result, to come bouncing back from last week is probably the best thing you could ask for."
Ferguson said he felt comfortable at Premier League level and his future involvement was entirely down to De Zerbi.
"I feel it's whatever he thinks, it’s his decision at the end of the day. I’m just going to keep coming in and working hard and if he wants to play me then I’ll try prove myself and try to get on the scoresheet.
"I feel comfortable (at this level), I’m in with the lads everyday and they push you to the limit. You have to keep working and working so when you get here it’s good.
"I think that's all you can ask for, four goals away to Everton, it’s a good day’s work."
Ferguson, son of Barry Ferguson who captained Longford Town to successive FAI Cup triumphs in 2003 and 2004, told Sky Sports that his family were back in Bettystown watching the game.
"They're back home, watching. I'd say I'll have a few messages from them so I'll go and ring them."
