Ferguson is yet to score for Roma
Rumours that Roma are looking to cut ties with Evan Ferguson have been exaggerated, and the club are happy with the Ireland striker, according to an Irish journalist based in Italy.
Ferguson is yet to score in 10 appearances for Roma, though most of those appearances have been from the bench, and is now injured for between two weeks and two months following an ankle problem.
The 21-year-old has scored in three of his last four international appearances, and though there were rumours that the Italian side were going to cut his loan from Brighton short, Rome-based sports journalist Paddy Agnew insists the club are happy with his performances, and are not looking elsewhere.
See what Agnew had to say below having spoken to SportsJOE, and hear the full interview on Ferguson’s time so far in Roma on Tuesday’s SportsJOE Podcast, available here.
Ireland have selection issues for final qualifiers
Ireland could have a completely depleted squad for their final World Cup Qualifiers after another two injuries on Wednesday night.
Ferguson was taken off after seven minutes in Roma’s match with Parma in Serie A,in what was his first start since October 2nd.
Elsewhere, Matt Doherty was brought off after 17 minutes of Wolves’ 4-3 defeat by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, adding to Heimir Halgrimsson’s selection woes.
Jayson Molumby and Ryan Manning, who both played minutes in the last set of World Cup Qualifiers, are both suspended for the Portugal clash on November 13.
Sammie Szmodics is recovering from surgery and will be unavailable, while Will Smallbone, Bosun Lawal and Jason Knight are also injured, alongside long-term absentee Robbie Brady.
The situation may give Halgrimsson the opportunity to call-up new faces; Johnny Kenny scoring twice for Celtic against Falkirk on Wednesday under new interim boss Martin O’Neill, while Derry boss Tiernan Lynch insists Michael Duffy should be considered for the squad.
Halgrimsson will announce his team next week for the final two qualifiers. Ireland host Portugal at the Aviva on November 13th, before a trip to Hungary on November 16th.
