Evan Ferguson has been struggling for goals of late (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi says Evan Ferguson is not playing at his highest level currently and must ‘help himself first of all’ to improve his form.
The teenage striker started the season brilliantly but his goal-scoring has slowed down and has netted just once since the start of November.
The Seagulls have been struggling for consistency as a group, not just the Irishman, with De Zerbi’s side down in ninth in the Premier League table after defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.
The Brighton manager accepts that the teenager is still learning at the elite level, he has also suffered a back injury in recent weeks, but has made it clear that he expects more from him.
‘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.’
Roberto De Zerbi wants more from his young striker (Picture: Getty Images)
Brighton are in action on Thursday night against Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but will be without defender Joel Veltman, who has joined their long list of injuries with a knee problem.
‘He (Veltman) has an injury not so big but I think for a couple of months we lost him,’ said De Zerbi.
Veltman joins the likes of Pervis Estupinan, Ansu Fati, Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso and Solly March on the injury list for the Seagulls.
MORE : Roberto De Zerbi makes huge Arsenal claim after Brighton defeat
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