Hürzeler: Evan Ferguson Close to Return, He Was Once One of the Premier League's Best Strikers

Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler updated the injury recovery situation of Irish striker Evan Ferguson, saying the 21-year-old forward is gradually getting closer to a return, but there is currently no specific date for his comeback.

Ferguson spent last season on loan from Brighton at Roma, but his loan spell ended early due to an ankle injury. He scored five goals in 22 appearances for Roma.

Speaking about Ferguson's current recovery, Hürzeler said: "He is getting closer and closer to returning. He is still undergoing rehabilitation training, but I cannot provide a clear timeline telling everyone when he will be back."

Although Ferguson's development in recent years has been affected by injuries, Hürzeler still gave a very high evaluation of his ability.

Hürzeler said: "Everyone knows what kind of ability Evan has. A few years ago, he already proved that at Brighton. I think he was one of the best strikers in the Premier League at that time, so I hope he can get back on track."

As he is still recovering from injury, Ferguson was not included in Brighton's squad for this season's UEFA Conference League league phase. He is also one of the five first-team players left out of the list. However, Brighton will still have the opportunity to adjust the squad list during the knockout stages.

For Ferguson, the current recovery focus is not only physical but also psychological. Hürzeler hopes the player can rebuild his trust in his own body after experiencing injury.

Hürzeler said: "I hope his mental state can be adjusted to the right place. I think after suffering this kind of injury, that is the most important thing. You have to get back on track and fully trust your body."

"Only when you truly feel at ease and completely believe in your body can you perform at the highest level of competition. This is our main focus right now, and then we will see how things develop."