Patience may not be a virtue 20-year-olds are famed for, but Evan Ferguson's phlegmatic approach to rehab from a troubling ankle injury bore fruit on Thursday night when he popped up to head home the only goal of the game as the Republic of Ireland defeated Finland on home soil.
Ferguson sustained the injury against Liverpool in late March, bringing about an early end to the Brighton striker's season.
Surgery followed and his Brighton return has yielded just one goal from limited opportunities this term.
However, there was a broad smile on the face of the Bettystown native after the 1-0 Nations League victory over the Finns at Aviva Stadium.
Evan Ferguson was delighted to head home the Ireland winner against Finland, but the Brighton striker admits that his recovery from injury proved more arduous than he had anticipated.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
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"It was good to be back at home in front of the fans and we got a result," Ferguson told RTÉ Sport in his post-match interview.
"We probably haven't had a 1-0 in a while, so it was good to get across the line."
He may have youth on his side, but Ferguson admitted to bumps on the road to recovery.
"I'm getting there. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be since surgery," he said.
"It's hard to say, as soon as it happens, a timeline. It just depends on your body, but I'm glad I didn't rush it and now I'm back and I'm feeling good and I'm probably in the best shape I've been in."
Mikey Johnston's sumptuous assist gave Ireland a lead they would not relinquish, with Caoimhín Kelleher ensuring the victory with a double-save from a Finland penalty, and Ferguson praised the unpredictable winger.
"It's good to play with Mike," he said. "Sometimes you don't know what he's doing. So if you don't know what he's doing, the defender doesn't know what he's doing.
"You just have to be in there ready for him and waiting for the goal."
Mikey Johnston, who provided the outstanding assist for Evan Ferguson's winner, always fancied Caoimhín Kelleher to save the spot-kick in the win over Finland. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/BFEBTn9pGN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 14, 2024
Of his own contribution, Johnston said: "I have been working on going on the outside and my left-foot crossing, so it's good to see that pay off.
"I was saying to him I’d hang it up, so he had to get in the right area."
