Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has been dubbed Ireland's big new hope.

That's the declaration of his former junior coach at St Kevin's, Karl Lamb.

"I remember the reaction to Rooney and that goal for Everton against Arsenal. I can see that sort of thing with Evan," Lamb, who coached Ferguson for eight years at St Kevin's Football Club, told BBC Sport.

"He is this thing Ireland have been crying out for for maybe 10 or 15 years. In England, it is like 'this lad has come out of nowhere' whereas in Ireland it is, 'this lad is the great hope'.

"Physically, Evan has always been a big lad, but he played football technically, tactically and in terms of decision making, miles ahead of other people," he says.

"He rarely relied on his physique. He would see something and try it, and that followed him all the way through."

Lamb also revealed: "We took that team all over Europe. Gavi at Barcelona is Evan's age and he would have played against him numerous times. We had a good team and we made sure to test them; Evan always scored.

"He had a touch of class; he'd be the one player you'd pick out of our team and put in the opposition's team and he'd have been comfortable."