Ferguson a 'conundrum' but still warrants start

Evan Ferguson's current club predicament might increasingly make him a "conundrum" from a Republic of Ireland selection point of view but his suitability for the system means he should start the upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Bulgaria, according to former Boys in Green defender Stephen Kelly.

The striker joined West Ham on loan from Brighton in January in a bid to find more game-time.

But he has yet to start for the Hammers, featuring for a total of just over 90 minutes spread across the past five Premier League games.

The 20-year-old Meath man is in Heimir Hallgrimsson's Ireland squad for this week's two-legged promotion/relegation tie against Bulgaria, although AZ Alkmaar's Troy Parrott in particular as well as Celtic's Adam Idah have been in better form since the Irish squad last convened in November.

While a front two is a possibility against Bulgaria, former Ireland winger Keith Treacy said last week that Parrott should get the nod to start if it's a straight choice between him and Ferguson.

However, speaking on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Ireland, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham full-back Kelly believes Hallgrimsson should persist with Ferguson as the lead striker given his suitability to the system.

"At the moment, Evan is a conundrum because if you feel Evan's fit and he's got enough game-time in his legs, he should start," said Kelly, who will be part of the RTÉ commentary team in Plovdiv on Thursday.

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Stephen Kelly previewed Ireland v Bulgaria on the first 25 minutes of the episode including sharing memories of playing alongside Dimitar Berbatov at Fulham:

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"I think Evan should start at the moment - and I know we're going off who's playing and who's currently in form, that all comes into it - but I think for the way we play, Evan suits us.

"And I remember last time we spoke about Evan, I was saying you had to play him in these games, just to get him on the pitch.

"You almost have to use this as a chance to get minutes in his legs because he is going to be a pivotal point for us going forward and if he's not getting minutes at club, internationally you have to give it to him."

"Now Troy is doing so well and he looks so comfortable in his own skin, doesn't he? He's enjoying his football in the place he is in Alkmaar, unlucky against Tottenham over those two legs in the Europa League.

"So he's playing European football, he's playing league football and he's playing it consistently, scoring goals, so it would be very harsh for him not to get a starting berth based on, let's face it, he's in better form than Evan.

"But I think who suits the style of the team more and maybe Evan does."

At the other end of the pitch in a full back position Kelly knows like the back of his hand, the performances of Jake O'Brien at Everton have impressed him as the Cork native becomes more accustomed to playing away from his natural centre-back role.

Jake O'Brien scored his second Premier League goal on Saturday

With Liam Scales absent from the squad, it means there will be a reshuffle in the back four and Kelly would like to see O'Brien - a scorer for the Toffees at the weekend - utilised at right back to maintain consistency from his club with Dara O'Shea moving inside to take up a centre-back position that he plays regularly for Ipswich.

"He's fell into it brilliantly," Kelly said of O'Brien's progression to his new-found role at Goodison Park over recent weeks.

"He's adapted his game. As you're playing that position, it's very different for what you have passing options driving forward.

"The first game against Tottenham, he's a little bit more tentative in roaming on. You could tell he was holding back, being more of a defensive unit and I think that's what (David) Moyes wanted.

"But you see as he's growing in confidence as it's gone on, he's getting into that box, he's getting into forward areas.

"He's being a real nuisance. Crosses coming in, if you've a six-foot-four guy at the far post coming in behind you, as a full back, it's not the best thing as you're trying to defend over your shoulder.

"So for us for Ireland, to have players that can play multiple positions can only help us, especially players get injured, players get suspended. You can play him centre-back, you know he's comfortable there and now you can play him right back and he's comfortable there.

"And for him, I think it's been huge for him because Everton have gone on this run and they're unbeaten, nine games unbeaten which is amazing for a team like Everton who were one point off relegation and he's been a huge part of that."

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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