Heimir Hallgrimsson has pushed Evan Ferguson's return into September or October, saying the striker is probably fully fit only some time in that window. Ferguson underwent surgery on his left ankle in March after first picking up the injury in a Europa League game against Stuttgart in January, and Hallgrimsson said it was more damage than the doctor thought in the beginning.
Why the recovery timeline has stretched
Hallgrimsson did not dress it up. He said he spoke to Ferguson two or three weeks ago and that the injury proved worse than first expected. He also made the point that it would be wise to take this slowly and leave the injury in the past instead of rushing it.
That matters because this is not a minor interruption. Hallgrimsson said this is the fourth separate ankle issue Ferguson has had, which helps explain why the caution is so strong. A striker with that history is not someone you hurry back for convenience.
The wider club picture also adds context. Brighton are 7th in the Premier League with 53 points from 37 games, while AS Roma are 4th in Serie A with 70 points from 37 games, and Ferguson's loan injury came while he was on loan there. The football can wait; the priority is getting him properly right for September or October, not gambling on a quicker return.
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