Forty-five minutes had passed at London Stadium last Saturday afternoon when West Ham United fans were given a glimpse of what to expect from Evan Ferguson, as he produced an encouraging display from the substitutes’ bench.
The Republic of Ireland international’s introduction in the narrow defeat to Brentford - as a half-time replacement for Carlos Soler - represented his first Premier League appearance for the Hammers since his deadline-day loan move from Brighton & Hove Albion, and he almost made an immediate impact.
In the 49th minute, he won the ball off Jarrod Bowen’s neat flick and showed his spatial awareness before delivering a fine cross across the face of goal into the path of Mohammed Kudus.
Kudus’ shot was off target, but Ferguson’s confidence and complete striker traits are exactly the sort of things Head Coach Graham Potter looks for in his centre-forwards.
Admittedly, there weren’t too many positives from the clash against the Bees overall, as Potter’s men failed to earn a share of the spoils that would have lifted them closer to the top half of the Premier League table, but Ferguson’s performance hinted he’s going to have a big say between now and the end of the season.
It was particularly important given the long-term absence of the Club's all-time record Premier League goalscorer, Michail Antonio, and with other forwards such as Niclas Füllkrug and Crysencio Summerville currently recovering from their respective injuries.
Like Ferguson, a man who knows a thing or two about making an instant mark in Claret and Blue is Dean Ashton. The now 41-year-old is aware of the weight of expectation and responsibility on our No34’s young shoulders, but has backed him to shine during his loan spell in east London.
Ashton, who was an instant hit at the Boleyn Ground after joining the Hammers in January 2006 from Norwich City, thrived at scoring goals and still provides one of the biggest 'what-ifs' in modern West Ham history, having struck 19 times in 56 appearances for the Club before his career was cruelly ended early due to injury.
So, how does one of our most highly-revered former forwards describe deadline-day signing Ferguson? Even though a lot of time separates the two eras, there are a lot of similarities. We found out in an exclusive interview with ex-England international Ashton, and his answers were pretty special...
“It’s a very exciting signing,” Ashton told whufc.com. “I was particularly pleased that we managed to get that one over the line, especially a player who the manager knows well.
“I think [Evan] Ferguson can be important, and Graham [Potter] knows how to manage him and hopefully get the best out of him. It feels as if his career had been put on hold at Brighton & Hove Albion to some extent, with a few injuries and being out of favour, so hopefully it's a fresh start for him.
“There's so much talent there, and I think we've seen glimpses of it already. The finishing ability he's clearly got is evident, and there's so much more potential with him as a player to learn and develop, hopefully under the new Head Coach.
“He’s easily got the potential to become a cult hero at West Ham. I think we've seen that. He’s been highly rated and highly touted throughout his career. He has an opportunity here, and I think with the talent he's clearly got, he's going to be a massive fan favourite. I think the fans are crying out for someone like him, and I'm sure he's got the confidence to own the shirt and be the main man.
“I think we've needed this type of player for a long time. We've been waiting for a long time to have a striker who can play through the middle, that can score goals, that can be in the box and that can be in the box ready for those opportunities that get created by the wide players and midfield players.
“The biggest thing is he knows where the goal is, and I feel as if he's the type of player that if he gets in those areas, you think he's going to score, and that's quite important. He won't realise it yet, I'm sure he will start to, but what a Club and what a fanbase. If he does well, he'll soon know what an unbelievable place this is and hopefully get that first goal and really kick on from there.”
It is easy to forget Ferguson is still only 20, and yet already boasts 61 Premier League appearances, has set records and has enjoyed a meteoric rise to his current position among the West Ham ranks.
He ended the 2022/23 season with ten goals in all competitions, and was aged 18 years and two months when he notched his first Premier League strike for Brighton against Arsenal on New Year’s Eve 2022, making him the youngest Irish player to score in the top flight.
He then became the fourth-youngest player to score a Premier League hat-trick when he netted a treble for the Seagulls against Newcastle United in September 2023, aged 18 years and eleven months.
Oh, and to prove he doesn’t just score in the Premier League, at 18 years and 154 days old, Ferguson became the second-youngest player to score on his first international start for the Republic of Ireland, behind only Kevin O'Flanagan in November 1937. As it stands, he has scored four goals in 18 appearances for his country.
Ferguson’s move to east London was one that made sense for all parties, and it is testament to his relationship with Potter that he rebuffed interest elsewhere in favour of a move to the Hammers.
Ashton believes West Ham fans have every reason to be excited about our new No34 and has backed him to flourish in Claret and Blue, having left a steely impression among those watching on at London Stadium last time out.
Ashton added: “He's already a fantastic player, but what else is to come when he really develops and gets the gametime I think that he really needs? That’s what really excites me.
“With every player at this level, you need games, you need to get that match sharpness, you need to get that confidence and you need to be able to develop within the games themselves and learn from them.
“I'm sure it was part of his decision-making [to be working with Potter again] because as a player you want to feel comfortable, you want to feel like the manager has got your best interests at heart, wants to get the best out of you and wants the team to play in a way that gets the best out of you as well, which I'm sure the manager will want. It’s that kind of freshness, but also having somebody that you've got a relationship with in the manager.
“For me, I know I'm biased, but there's nothing better than seeing a number nine in full flow scoring goals for your football club. So, hopefully he can be the man. I thought he looked sharp [against Brentford] and I thought he looked hungry for the opportunity. He showed a couple of glimpses of what he's about.
“I think he's his own player in that he's going to play that role slightly differently. I know he can certainly run in behind, but I think he wants to come and get involved in the play and link up and create as well. It's difficult when you're coming on as a substitute and trying to make an impact, but I thought he made quite a big difference in the second half with his presence up there.
“I moved twice in January (during his own career, including to West Ham in 2006), and I think it's a great time to move because everyone's playing, everyone's fit and there are games straight away, so you've got to get straight into that team environment rather than waiting over the summer.
“So, I think it's a great time for him to move and be thrown straight in, and as long as he builds that fitness up, then he'll do the things that always endear you to your teammates, which are playing well and scoring goals. Everyone will love him, I'm sure, because of that.”
