EVAN AND ME GO WAY DACK AT NUMBER 9

MARCUS DACKERS used to share digs with Roma loan ace Evan Ferguson when they were starry-eyed kids at Brighton.

- BY MICHAEL BAILLIE

The pair, along with Antef Tsoungui who is now at Feyenoord, would play FIFA together as they dreamed of starring in the real game.

Now new Kilmarnock striker Dackers is ready to hit the shoot button to boost his goal return for Stuart Kettlewell’s charges.

The 22-year-old has had a great education, firstly in Manchester City’s academy before joining Brighton at the age of 12.

Although he didn't make a first-team appearance for the Seagulls - unlike Ferguson who enjoyed his Premier League debut at 17 - Dackers is ready to put into practice what he learned and add to the two goals, both in the Premier Sports Cup, he's already notched for Killie.

Dackers said: “I started at Man City when I was seven and left there when I was 12 to move to Brighton. I was at Brighton until 18.

“Those two academies built the foundations I have now.