EXCLUSIVE
Evan Ferguson says he got more nervous taking his driving test than he does facing top Premier League defenders.
The 18-year-old has signed a new long-term contract, tying him down to the Amex Stadium until 2029.
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Ferguson has been compared to Alan Shearer by the England legend himself, but the Brighton wonderkid admits he finds scoring goals easier than being behind the wheel.
After numerous failed tests, Ferguson has only recently been able to shed his L-Plates after previously relying on lifts to matches from Brighton’s player liaison officer.
The Irish sensation said: “I had to get that one out of the way.
“I haven't sweated as much in a match as I did during that driving test I don't think. Never again!”
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Ferguson has been destined for superstardom since making his debut for League of Ireland side Bohemians aged just FOURTEEN in a friendly against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.
Two years later and after trials at clubs including Liverpool and Manchester United the affable 19-year-old joined Brighton after being recommended to the Seagulls by Ireland legend Liam Brady.
Ferguson, who speaks with the same coolness he displays in the penalty area, explains: “I went to a few different teams.
“But the feeling I got when I came here was just sort of different to those teams. There was a pathway here and a number of other Irish players.
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“I think there was a lot that I took into consideration and I had to think about, because it's not like it's a little deal moving away and Brighton ended up being the right move for me.”
Ferguson had not even turned 17 when he made his Brighton bow and is one of only four 18-year-olds to score a Premier League hat-trick.
The Bettystown-born front-man, whose grandad played alongside George Best at Manchester United and whose dad Barry was a professional footballer, admits he had to grow up quickly after being thrust into the limelight.
“It seems to be in the football world that everything happens at a younger age, so you have to be quite mature, especially in the things you do off pitch,” says Ferguson.
“People will just try to slate you if you do anything so you have to be quite careful what you get up to and what sort of time you do it.
“Whenever anyone comes over from Ireland to England and does well, everyone has their say about that person.
“I still have all my mates from school that I still talk to and my next-door neighbour that I've known for years. I still talk to him and we play the Playstation together.”
Ferguson’s mum Sarah is English, but asked why he opted to play for the Republic of Ireland and not the Three Lions, his answer is as emphatic as one of his lethal finishes.
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He said: “I'm Irish! There's nothing else to say! I've been asked that question a few times, but no, I'm Irish.
“I think that would be probably the best feeling, that you could have in football, leading the line-up for your country at a major tournament, I don't think there would be a prouder moment.”
Brighton have generated huge profits in recent seasons from selling the likes of Marc Cucurella, World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.
Chairman Tony Bloom is understood to believe Ferguson could eventually command a British record fee in excess of the £115m Chelsea paid for Caicedo, but the man himself does not let that type of talk distract him.
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Ferguson said: “You can't really do much about it, it doesn't make you play better on the pitch so you can't really let it affect you.
“You just have to keep going and keep giving reasons for those people to keep saying that stuff.”