Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has revealed he has inside knowledge Ireland striker Evan Ferguson heading into Saturday's Euro 2024 qualifier in Amsterdam.
Koeman has asked Brighton's Bart Verbruggen about his 19-year-old Brighton team-mate as the pair prepare to go head-to-head at the Johan Cruyff Arena, and watched him in person in the Seagulls' 2-0 Europa League win at Ajax last Thursday evening.
Asked about the teenage frontman, the former Southampton and Everton manager told a press conference: "We know he's a good striker. We've got good information from our goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen about him.
"I watched him last week when he came in against Ajax Amsterdam and he's a good one. He's a young one, he's a goalscorer and we have to defend well because he's a good striker."
Ferguson missed September's 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium with a knee injury and is currently working to shake off a back problem.
How different Ireland's campaign might have been - they have collected just six points from seven games to date, all of them against Group B minnows Gibraltar - had he been fit throughout is a topic for debate.
However, asked if that return reflected their current standing - the Republic are currently ranked 58th by FIFA compared to their opponents' seventh - Koeman said: "Maybe they were a little bit unlucky against Holland at home or France at home, it was a close result.
"It's difficult from my position to analyse every game. Still, we expect they will come to Amsterdam to win the game and to have a better feeling than they have had in the last few games."
The Dutch need victory over either Ireland at the weekend or Gibraltar on Tuesday night to clinch qualification with group leaders France already assured of their place at next summer's finals.
However, asked if that would be cause for celebration, Koeman said: "Well, when we got this draw for this group, I knew straight away that it would be difficult. Compared to some other pools, this one is a lot heavier.
"If we make it, we will have done what we are obliged to do, but especially with Ireland away and Greece away, there was the pressure that we had to do it. I think that's great, considering the injuries we had back then.
"If you look at the qualities of the countries, we should qualify, but partying? No, not really. We will if we win the European Championship."
Koeman's defensive resources have been severely depleted with Feyenoord's Lutsharel Geertruida, who limped out of training on Thursday, the latest man to join a casualty list which already included Jeremie Frimpong, Matthijs de Ligt, Nathan Ake, Micky van de Ven and Sven Botman.
However, wide-man Denzel Dumfries is in line to win his 50th senior cap if he gets the nod.
The Inter Milan midfielder said: "That gives you a very proud feeling. I am honoured that I have already been able to achieve that."
Watch the Netherlands v Republic of Ireland on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player this Saturday from 7pm, follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to commentary on RTÉ 2fm.
