Ferguson could be in Albion squad: Forest v Brighton team news
The big team news ahead of Brighton heading to Nottingham Forest is that Evan Ferguson might be part of the Albion squad despite being heavily linked with a January move.
Ferguson was last spotted in an Albion shirt coming off the bench for the final five minutes of the 2-2 draw at West Ham United before Christmas.
He has been ruled out by an ankle injury ever since, the latest issue to impact a season which is yet to get off the ground for the Irishman.
Ferguson has scored only one goal for Brighton in 15 months. Fabian Hurzeler does not appear to rate him, handing Ferguson two Premier League starts so far.
His game time totals just 220 minutes with both Joao Pedro and Georginio Rutter preferred by Hurzeler to fill the number nine role win the absence of Danny Welbeck.
Even though anyone who has watched the Albion with Pedro and Rutter leading the line can tell you neither suits the position in Hurzeler’s system.
Reports suggest Brighton are open to loaning or even selling Ferguson in the remaining few days of the transfer window, so for him to be mentioned in terms of team news for the trip to Forest is somewhat surprising.
Ferguson is not short of suitors. Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked from the European Super League Elite Six. West Ham and Everton from further down the top flight pecking order.
1996 Coca Cola Up runners up The Leeds United have been mooted as a possible Championship destination. Clubs abroad interested include Bayer Leverkusen or a reunion with Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille.
Any move to Leverkusen is complicated by the fact the Bundesliga champions would first need to offload Victor Boniface.
Quite what the Albion are thinking entertaining the idea of letting Ferguson leave is another question entirely.
Brighton have just lost 1-0 at home to Everton; a game in which they mustered one shot on target in 105 minutes. Hurzeler was so short of forward options or ideas that he ended up bringing on fourth choice centre back Adam Webster up front.
To loan out or sell Ferguson and rely on Welbeck and Pedro not getting injured at all over the next four months seems a pretty insane decision.
If Hurzeler is telling the truth about Ferguson potentially returning at the City Ground, fingers crossed it is indicative of a change of heart at the club in terms of getting rid.
Hurzeler was pretty coy when asked directly about the Ferguson situation in his pre-Forest press conference.
The Youngest Permanent Manager in Premier League History said any decision would be based on what is best for Ferguson over the next six months.
Hurzeler added that Ferguson wants to play football, whether that is with Brighton or somewhere else. Hopefully not somewhere else if it means the sight of Webster playing as a striker again.
Ferguson aside, the other Forest against Brighton team news centred on three players who missed the Everton debacle injured.
Neither Mats Wieffer or Solly March will be fit to face the Tricky Trees. Pervis Estupinan meanwhile only has a small chance of recovering from whatever it is that his struck him down.
There was praise for Tariq Lamptey for stepping in on his less-preferred side at left back. Quick reminder that Lamptey is out of contract at the end of the season.
Hurzeler said Rutter is pushing for a start having been on the bench for six consecutive Premier League games in a role.
Rutter would be the obvious replacement for Brajan Gruda, who was as useful as a pair of sunglasses for a bloke with one ear against Everton.
One player unlikely to be in contention to take over from Gruda on the right flank is Yankuba Minteh.
Hurzeler confirmed he had spoken to the squad about values and standards after Minteh was reportedly dropped last Saturday for turning up to the Amex late.
