Roberto De Zerbi: The level of Evan Ferguson is higher than the level he is playing at in this moment

The Brighton boss, who also said Ferguson is "like my son", believes the Republic of Ireland international striker still has a lot to learn.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: Brighton and Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson and Arsenal's William Saliba battle for the ball.  Photo credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Evan Ferguson needs to improve the level of his current performances according to Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The 19-year-old has scored six Premier League goals so far this season, including a sensational hat-trick against Newcastle United, but he is currently enduring a run of six games without a goal while he has also failed to find the net in any of Brighton's Europa League matches.

And speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, De Zerbi, who also said Ferguson is "like my son", believes the Republic of Ireland international striker still has a lot to learn.

"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,” said De Zerbi.

"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.”

De Zerbi also believes the motivation to complete a "dream" victory at Crystal Palace on will provide a restless night for his Brighton players.

The Seagulls travel to Selhurst Park to face rivals Palace in the M23 derby on Thursday night. Brighton, ninth in the Premier League, will head into the fixture as favourites to take three points against a Palace side without a victory in their last six matches.

"We have a big motivation to win the game, for the league table, but especially for our fans," added De Zerbi.

"We know the importance of the game, and the level of difficulty of the game. It is an honour for the players to play in this type of game, and in this type of atmosphere.

"It is a motivation and a dream to win away, especially in a derby game, and it is a big motivation not to sleep tonight."

Brighton will move up to seventh with a victory in De Zerbi's 50th league game in charge. But the Seagulls, bidding for back-to-back wins against Palace, will be without defender Joel Veltman.

The Dutch right-back sustained a knee injury in the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend - and De Zerbi anticipates he will face a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

"He (Veltman) has an injury not so big but I think for a couple of months we lost him," continued the Italian.

Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck, who came off the bench at the Emirates Stadium, is in the squad for Thursday's fixture, but is not fit enough to start.

"It is important for us if Danny is available to play part of the game," said De Zerbi of the former Manchester United and Arsenal forward, who was sidelined for nearly two months with a muscle injury.

"He changed the game on Sunday and we know the importance of Danny inside the team."