Evan Ferguson: Early teenage first-team debuts, impressing De Zerbi, and Aaron Connolly influence

The Brighton & Hove Albion and Republic of Ireland U21 striker was only 14 when he featured for Bohemians against Chelsea in a friendly at Dalymount Park. A competitive debut arrived two months later away to Derry City.

STAR BOY: Evan Ferguson stands for a portrait during a Republic of Ireland U21's press conference at FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Jason Cundy hammered Mikel Arteta for making Ethan Nwaneri the youngest ever Premier League last weekend, Danny Murphy couldn’t understand the logic of blooding the 15-year old against Brentford and plenty of other, less-strident, opinions have been bounced around for and against since Arsenal’s 3-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Evan Ferguson seemed like a good man to ask.