Evan Ferguson update as Brighton arrive in Japan for pre-season trip
Ireland striker Evan Ferguson last played for Brighton as a second-half substitute in their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in late-March
Evan Ferguson is back on the training pitch for Brighton after a three-month lay-off with an ankle injury.
However, the Ireland striker hasn't made the Seagulls' 31-strong squad for their pre-season trip to Japan.
Brighton have landed in the Far East ahead of matches against J-League sides Kashima Antlers and Tokyo Verdy.
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Included in Fabian Hurzeler's squad are young Ireland pair Andrew Moran and Mark O'Mahony, with both hoping to get some game-time and impress the new manager.
Ferguson is only back on the grass in recent days and is staying behind to continue his return to fitness.
The young striker's season came to a premature end when he picked up an ankle injury.
Then-boss Roberto De Zerbi said: "He felt pain in the ankle a lot of time and he tried to move on, to play with pain.
"But at the end he preferred to stop and to think about next season."
And Ferguson, who missed Ireland's June friendlies against Hungary and Portugal, wrote about his disappointment on social media.
He posted on X, formerly Twitter: "It’s been a season of mixed emotions, taken plenty of lessons and positives from it but still frustrating that it has ended earlier than I wanted.
"Wishing the lads the very best of luck for the final few games. Counting down the days to pre-season and getting back to fitness!"
Ferguson made a blistering start to last season and netted a hat-trick against Newcastle in early-September.
However, he struggled after that and finished his campaign with six goals.
Brighton's young Irish pair O'Mahony and Moran have a chance in Japan to impress new boss Hurzeler.
Moran spent last season on-loan at Blackburn Rovers, playing 41 times in all competitions and scoring four goals.
Former Cork City striker O'Mahony, meanwhiole, made three Premier League appearances last season, while he was prolific in the club's Under-21 side.
Brighton will play two games in the 68,000-seater National Stadium, where the biggest attraction for local fans will be the club's Japanese star Kaoru Mitoma.
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