Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi says Evan Ferguson's 'level' is higher than current form

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi said Evan Ferguson needs to improve on his recent form, vowing to do "everything to help him become a great player."

Ferguson has already matched his 2022-23 tally with six league goals, the high-point being reached when he struck a headline grabbing hat-trick in a 3-1 home win over Newcastle United in September.

The 19-year old prospect picked up an injury in the same game, ruling him out of the Republic of Ireland's subsequent international window.

He has scored twice in the Premier League since his return, most recently in a 3-2 away win at Nottingham Forest in late November, though is currently on a six-game streak without a goal.

"For the young player you can expect a different type of performance. There is a time when they play very well, they score, but in different moments they can suffer [from] the level of competition," de Zerbi told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"In the last two months Evan suffered, from injury and other things, he can play better. The level of Evan is higher than the level he is playing at in this moment, we have to help him but he has to help himself first of all, to understand better the play, he's very young, he is like my son and I try everything to help him become a great player for sure."

In addition to his scoring exploits for Brighton, Ferguson has 10 international appearances for Ireland, scoring three goals, in the win over Latvia and the home and away victories over Gibraltar.