Ireland legend Dunne backs Ferguson to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal new boy and take Europe by storm after Roma move

EVAN FERGUSON can prove the doubters wrong by taking the Premier League by storm when he returns from Italy.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

That's the view of Republic of Ireland legend Richard Dunne who feels Ferguson's “brave” loan move to Roma will be the making of him for club and country.

And Dunne points to Arsenal's new €73m recruit Victor Gyökeres as a point in case, considering how the Swede journeyed around to find his form before making it big.

Ferguson, 20, has made an instant impact at the Rome giants, smashing six goals in four preseason appearances but was an unused sub in Wednesday's 4-0 friendly defeat to Aston Villa.

And while four of those goals came in one game against a Serie D team, Dunne insists that shouldn't matter, as it's all about Ferguson rediscovering his scoring touch.

Dunne said: "I think it's really brave of him to go off, especially when you don't know the language and it's a different culture. Hopefully it's the right move.

"The start he's had has been brilliant. He probably looked at the West Ham move and thought it was the right one.

"He felt hed get opportunities but the Premier League has become a place where you need to be proven to get those chances.