Urgent: Evan Ferguson Injured Before Ireland’s Key World Cup Qualifiers

UPDATE: A significant setback for Ireland as Evan Ferguson suffers an injury during his first start in nearly a month, raising doubts about his availability for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary. The injury occurred just minutes into Wednesday’s Serie A match against Parma, where Ferguson was forced to leave the pitch after only seven minutes due to a harsh challenge from Lautaro Valenti.

Irish manager Heimir Hallgrímsson is anxiously awaiting an update from Ferguson’s club, Roma, as he prepares to announce his squad on November 6. Ireland needs at least four points from these matches to keep their playoff hopes alive, making Ferguson’s fitness critical—he has scored three goals in just four appearances this season.

The injury comes at a particularly tense time for Ferguson, who has struggled to find his form at Roma, failing to score since joining the club. Earlier this week, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed concern over Ferguson’s fitness, noting that he had been benched for the recent win against Sassuolo due to ongoing ankle issues.

Ferguson was seen clutching his right ankle after Valenti’s challenge, further complicating his recovery. Hallgrímsson’s concerns are heightened by the fact that Ferguson’s contributions have been vital to the team’s success in qualifying.

As the Irish squad announcement approaches, the nation holds its breath over the status of their young star. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Ferguson can recover in time for these pivotal matches, which could determine Ireland’s path to the World Cup.

Stay tuned for updates on Ferguson’s condition and Ireland’s squad selection as this story develops.