Loan spell could be just what Ferguson needs
Evan Ferguson looks set to swap Brighton & Hove Albion for a different club in the new year - and that might just be what's required to get his career up and moving once more.
Brighton will make Ferguson available on loan in January, an indication he is not in manager Fabian Huerzler's plans for the immediate future - unless, of course, some of his front-line strikers get injured.
So far this season the Bettystown player has started just one Premier League game for the Seagulls and that was against Newcastle United away in October.
The young striker is well down the rankings with Danny Wellbeck, Georginio Rutter and Joao Pedro in front of him when to comes to a starting place on the team.
Ferguson has scored one goal in the Premier League so far this season also. That was against Wolves last month. He had started that match on the bench but was sent into the fray and was in the right place at the right time to score his first league goal in 11 months.
Last season he was hampered by an ankle injury but he has fully recovered from that and played in recent games for Ireland.
Moving to a new club in January is likely to give Ferguson regular first team football. It's surely a welcome new horizon even if he has to move down to a Championship club.
His sharpness will be improved and his confidence boosted by regular games and hopefully, regular goals.
Certainly Ireland manager Helmer Hallgrimsson would want him to move to a club where he is playing week in, week out.
Brighton value Ferguson in the £60 (€72m) bracket and maybe a few Premier League clubs such as Fulham and Leicester City, who have struggled to find the net this season, might be tempted to buy him in the January window.
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy is the autumn of a fine career and Ferguson could be just the kind of player the Foxes seek as they look for a long-term replacement.
Towards the end of last year Ferguson (19) signed a six-year deal with Brighton.
With appearances restricted at the club this season it is surely time for the Meath man to move on - either on loan or permanently.
For now, however, it looks like he will going out on loan.
One way or another first team football is what he needs to take him to the next phase of his career.