Evan Ferguson has every chance of starting against France in Republic of Ireland's opening Euro 2024 qualifier should he continue his current goal-scoring streak, according to former St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne midfielder Conan Byrne.
Ferguson, who is just 18, has enjoyed a fruitful week for Brighton in the Premier League, scoring in a defeat to Arsenal before netting again and providing an assist on his first top-flight start during Tuesday's 4-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
The former Bohemians striker, who started his burgeoning career with the Phibsboro-based club aged 14 in a friendly against Chelsea, already has two Irish senior caps to his name, having been called up to Stephen Kenny's squad for last November's friendlies against Norway and Malta.
And while Byrne stressed that it is vital not to put too much pressure on Ferguson at this early juncture in his career, he feels the current context for Irish strikers opens a door for the youngster to be heavily involved against France in Dublin on 27 March - should he maintain his rapid progression.
"If he keeps going the way he's going and he comes on [for Brighton] and he scores goals, he'll start against France," Byrne told RTÉ's Game On.
"You look at Michael Obafemi, who has fallen out of favour with Russell Martin at Swansea so you can't really see him starting.
"Adam Idah has done well when he came back from injury. He scored there last week so he's a possibility.
"Troy Parrott is not scoring goals but Evan Ferguson is. This is the mental strength that you would need as a striker and he has great people around him which is really, really important and I think that comes from the St Kevin's and Bohemians link that they've had."
One of those people is his
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