Evan Ferguson has been in plenty of Celtic fan conversations this season.
And it’s not just been transfer speculation. Between Martin O’Neill’s two interim spells, Ferguson scored at Celtic Park for Roma in a 3-0 rout.
That night, the Ireland striker said that Wilfried Nancy’s side looked like they didn’t know what they were doing, in one of many damning indictments of that period.
There is also speculation surrounding what Ferguson is doing next. On loan at Roma, he is behind in the pecking order, with rumours of Brighton recalling him persisting throughout the January window.
Now, one of his ex-teammates has assessed his options, including a heartfelt move to Celtic.
Watch as Evan Ferguson bags a brace against Celtic. Is he what we are missing?
Evan Ferguson contact considers Celtic option
Jeff Hendrick was still an Ireland regular when an 18-year-old Ferguson was scoring on his international breakthrough.
The pair are both alumni of the famed St Kevin’s Boys academy in Dublin, which has produced a host of future Ireland internationals over the years.
READ MORE: Martin O’Neill tells wholesome story from final Celtic game of first interim spell
And with Ferguson’s long-term future in doubt at both Roma and Brighton, Hendrick feels that Celtic could be seen as a viable option for him to get back scoring goals regularly.
Via the Daily Record, the ex-Burnley midfielder said: “Evan Ferguson is still young, he’s still hungry, he’s still learning.
“I know it hasn’t worked out for him pretty much since his injury at West Ham and then going out to Italy.
“He has done alright since the turn of the year and then he got that injury again. I’m not comparing them, but it does happen.
“It’s an ankle injury and they do reoccur, I think we’ve seen this with Harry Kane over the space of maybe four, five, six years, where he kept doing his ankle.
“Unfortunately, Evan might have to deal with that as well throughout his career.
“Potentially, yeah, he could go to Celtic and score a lot of goals. I think he’s got to end up scoring goals wherever he is. But I think he needs to be careful where he picks his next move.
“It’s been two years now where he’s really not got going, especially after bursting onto the scene. I’d like him not to jump into something.
“Maybe he might jump into Celtic with his heart because, you know, he’s Irish and the affiliation is there.
“But I think he needs to think logically about where his next step is and what is the right fit for him, whether it’s a manager, a playing style, a club, a country. I think he needs to be careful where he picks.”
The reason why Evan Ferguson would join Celtic is _ _ _ _ _
Where did it go wrong for Evan Ferguson?
Ferguson was being priced at £100m by Brighton after breaking through as a teenager, showing an explosiveness beyond his years in the English top-flight.
But playing time became limited after the arrival of Fabian Hurzeler, leading to a loan move to West Ham which wasn’t successful either.
A move to new surroundings with Roma made sense, but his two goals at Celtic Park were more the exception than the rule for his performances so far at the Italian giants.
Aged 21, Ferguson has plenty of time to fulfil his potential, but where he decides to do it will be crucial.
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