Evan Ferguson suffers injury in opening minutes of Roma's Serie A clash

The Bettystown native was making his first Serie A start in five weeks, but he lasted just seven minutes of their match with Parma at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

DISTRESSED: Roma's Evan Ferguson leaves the pitch after picking up a nasty ankle injury in their Serie A clash with Parma at the Olympic Stadium. Pic: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

Evan Ferguson is a doubt for the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier double-header against Portugal and Hungary next month after he suffered an injury for AS Roma on Wednesday.

The Bettystown native was making his first Serie A start in five weeks, but he lasted just seven minutes of their clash with Parma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ferguson, who has yet to score for his new side, was on the wrong end of a strong tackle in the opening minute and after he initially attempted to run off the injury, the 21-year-old ultimately had to be replaced by on-loan Aston Villa attacker Leon Bailey.

MISERY: Evan Ferguson leaves the pitch during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Parma at the Olympic Stadiu. Pic: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson is set to name his squad for Ireland’s final two World Cup group stage qualifiers on Thursday, November 6 ahead of the home fixtures against Portugal on November 13 and away clash with Hungary on November 16.

He already looks to be short of options in attack after Sammie Szmodics said he will be “back in no time” as he confirmed on Wednesday that he has undergone surgery on his latest injury he suffered playing for Ipswich Town on Saturday.