Evan Ferguson in action against Sammie Szmodics, right, and Andrew Omobamidele, left, during a Republic of Ireland training session. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Still a teenager, albeit for only two more weeks, Evan Ferguson is by some distance the youngest member of an Ireland squad which flies out to meet the chill of Helsinki, burdened by one of the worst losing streaks in living memory.
Ireland’s hopes in the back-to-back away games against Finland and Greece do not rest on the shoulders of this 19-year-old. Irish football’s issues are far are too complex and too deep-rooted to expect someone so young to bear that load.