Tony has questions over Ferg

THE new Republic of Ireland manager will need to rethink Evan Ferguson’s role in the national team as a priority, insists Tony Cascarino.

The Brighton youngster, 19, will not feature in the two June friendlies after being ruled out for the rest of the season with injury.

And former Ireland star Cascarino (above) said: “I am gutted at the news Evan is injured but maybe that will allow some time to reassess and re-evaluate his best role.

“Watching Evan, he has a lot of talent, a lot of promise, but it is not evident in a team such as Ireland that is not going to be particularly free-scoring.

“He has also suffered a bit at club level, his season has ended looking a bit like he’s lost his way slightly. I think Pedro coming to Brighton knocked him down the pecking order.”

Ferguson is a still great prospect but Tonybet.com ambassador Cascarino believes there needs to be a rethink, certainly as far as his international role is concerned.

He added: “There is a player in there – a very good player in there – but I’m not convinced he’s a centre-forward yet. I’m not convinced Evan will ever be Robert

Lewandowski, he’s nowhere near as quality of finisher as Lewandowski.

“I think his best position would be off a centre-forward. One thing that stood out in the Belgium game was he cannot lead the line in that manner.

“You have to be able to bring players in, he looks far more comfortable when facing goal. He’s better running at the goal rather than being back to goal.

“When he has his back to goal he doesn’t do the required things up the pitch, someone has to be the springboard to do it.”