Stephen Ireland: Evan Ferguson Cap 'Vital' To Avoid A Rice Situation

Evan Ferguson looks like he is ready to become the next big Irish football star after the 18-year-old burst onto the scene for club Brighton.

The young Irish player has all the makings of a complete striker with his abilities on full display in Brighton's win against Grimsby Town in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Ferguson scored a brace in that game to help his club book a semi-final spot in the competition against Man United.

Ferguson, who only turned 18 last October, has sent Irish fans into a frenzy with his latest performances and has even earned high praise from Gary Lineker and Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy.

However, it has come to light recently that Ferguson does have the option of representing England due to family heritage on his Mother's side of the family. Although the young striker has shown no signs of switching allegiances to England it has put a lot of worry into the minds of Irish fans who have seen similar scenarios play out with Declan Rice and Jack Grealish.

Here at BoyleSports we got the chance to sit down with Stephen Ireland who weighed in on the situation with Evan Ferguson's international status and the possibility of another Declan Rice situation playing out.

Evan Ferguson Ireland Cap Vital

How important is it for Evan Ferguson to make a senior Ireland appearance to avoid a Declan Rice situation as he can play for England?

SI: It’s absolutely vital of course, but he has earned it as well - he is there on merit. He’s earning the minutes; he’s in form, he’s flying, with a lot of focus and attention on him as well.

Regardless of the politics of that stuff, he deserves it as he is in form and he is striving for all of this. It’s a credit to himself to have got in this position.

He’s someone who, hopefully in years to come, can be leading the front line to get into major tournaments and scoring - being a bit of a leader as well.

Jack Grealish Justifying His £100m Transfer?

How hard will it have been for Jack Grealish to settle at Man City and is he finally starting to repay the £100m fee?

SI: Jack’s starting to play well, starting to fly a little bit now. It’s tough because Jack works hard as a ball-carrying style of player, he occupies a lot of players on the pitch and he frees up other people.

A player like Haaland is completely different because he tends to stay away from the ball, unless it is in the penalty box and then he just puts it in the back of the net! Jack is different in the sense he wants to be involved, wants to be on the ball creating and trying to drive the team forward. It’s like two extremes - he wants to be a probing catalyst but he probably does want more goals as well.

People want Jack to do everything for the team as well; they want the full package, they want him to score and assist and then they want him to always be on the ball. He is working really hard and it will come eventually.

The transition between leaving from Villa to Man City must be hard as well because of the price tag involved. People expect so much and that is not his fault. He looks like he is playing with a smile on his face - the team is winning and he is playing well. You can’t ask for too much more from him than that really.

Individually, could he do a little bit more? Yeah he could stack up a few more stats than that, a few more goals and assists here and there, but he is heading in the right direction and it’s coming. The club has to keep winning because there is so much still left to play for.

Still Bad Blood Between Ireland and France After Henry Handball

Is there still bad blood between Ireland and France after the Thierry Henry handball?

SI: Absolutely, I think that will always stay. I think it was something that was an absolute disaster, it’s an incredibly unique story and it is always fresh in people’s minds.

It feels as well like they create these narratives around the games, but rightly so - it was an absolute disgrace! An absolute farce, absolute heartache for everybody - it’s always fresh in people’s minds.

It brings a bit more of an edge to the game, it makes it more competitive because the media will always bring it up and that filters through to the team.

Importance Of Ireland Returning To A Major Tournament

How important is it to bring Ireland and their fans back to a major tournament?

SI: It’s vital and the entire country is crying out for it. There is always heartbreak when the team doesn’t make it to a tournament, they always seem to be a bit closer and there or thereabouts with it.

The country needs it, they’re desperate for it and craving it. It’ll be great if they can do it, because when they are there, the country becomes an absolute party and it creates a real togetherness within the country.

Ireland as a country is built to be really tight knit as well and together, these things bring everyone together and it’d be really great to finally get somewhere.