Republic of Ireland manager John O'Shea has been dealt a significant blow ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Hungary as star striker Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of the match due to a training ground injury.
The Brighton forward, who has been a crucial part of Ireland's attacking lineup, was forced to withdraw from the squad after picking up an injury during training preparations. The setback comes at an unfortunate time for both player and country as they build towards crucial upcoming fixtures.
Ferguson's absence leaves a considerable void in Ireland's attacking options for the Budapest encounter. The 19-year-old has established himself as one of Ireland's most promising talents since making his international debut in 2022, bringing both physical presence and clinical finishing to the frontline.
Team medical staff confirmed the injury after assessing Ferguson following the training session. While the exact nature and severity of the injury haven't been fully disclosed, it's understood to be significant enough to prevent his participation in the upcoming friendly.
Manager John O'Shea expressed his disappointment at the news, stating: "Evan is obviously a key player for us, and it's always disappointing to lose someone of his quality. The medical team will continue to monitor his situation closely."
The injury comes as Ireland prepare to face a Hungarian side that recently extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Israel. Marco Rossi's team will provide stern opposition at the Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Budapest.
Ferguson's withdrawal follows earlier squad changes that saw Luton's Chiedozie Ogbene and Millwall's Ryan Longman also pull out due to injury concerns. These absences will test Ireland's squad depth as O'Shea looks to implement his tactical approach against quality opposition.
The match against Hungary serves as important preparation for Ireland's upcoming Nations League campaign, where they face England, Greece, and Finland in Group B2 starting this September.
