Roma striker Evan Ferguson will miss the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off after being ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. The 21-year-old's loan spell at Roma is set to end early as he returns to Brighton and Hove Albion for surgery. Ferguson has scored five goals in 22 appearances for the Serie A club this season.

His injury setback comes at a crucial time for Ireland, who face the Czech Republic in a play-off semi-final on March 26. Ferguson scored three goals during the qualifying campaign but missed key victories over Portugal and Hungary due to previous injuries. Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed the forward will undergo surgery as recovery time makes it impossible to return this season.

The Republic of Ireland's World Cup hopes now rest on other attacking options as they aim to reach their first tournament since 2002. Should they qualify, Ireland would be placed in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa. Ferguson's absence represents a significant blow to Hallgrimsson's squad depth.