Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler provided an update on Irish striker Evan Ferguson's injury recovery, stating that the 21-year-old forward is gradually nearing a return, though a specific comeback date cannot yet be determined.

Ferguson was on loan at Roma from Brighton & Hove Albion last season, but his spell ended prematurely due to an ankle injury. He scored 5 goals in 22 appearances for the Italian club.

Regarding Ferguson's current recovery, Hürzeler said: "He is getting closer to returning and is still undergoing rehabilitation, but I cannot give a clear timetable for when he will be back."

Although Ferguson's development in recent years has been affected by injuries, Hürzeler praised his abilities highly.

Hürzeler said: "Everyone knows what Evan is capable of. A few years ago, he already proved this at Brighton & Hove Albion. I think he was one of the best strikers in the Premier League at that time, so I hope he can get back on track."

As he is still in the recovery phase, Ferguson was not included in Brighton & Hove Albion's squad for the league phase of this season's UEFA Europa Conference League. He is one of five first-team players excluded from the squad. However, Brighton & Hove Albion retains the opportunity to adjust the squad for the knockout stages.

For Ferguson, the focus of recovery is not only physical but also mental. Hürzeler hopes the player can rebuild confidence in his body after the injury.

Hürzeler said: "I hope his mental state can be adjusted to the right place. I think after suffering such an injury, this is the most crucial thing. You have to get back on track and completely trust your body."

"Only when you truly feel at ease and completely trust your body will you be able to perform at the highest level. This is our main focus now, and then we will see how things develop."

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