Andrew Moran: The Irish Foden?
Evan Ferguson grabbed the headlines as Brighton cruised to victory over Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Cup but a young Irish debutant for the Seagulls could soon attract as much excitement.
Two weeks after signing a fresh three-year deal with Graham Potter’s side, Knocklyon’s Andrew Moran made his senior bow midweek alongside fellow Dub James Furlong and Ferguson who has been involved with the first-team for some time now.
Having become a debutant for Bray Wanderers at 15 and goalscorer at 16, Brighton won the battle for the youngster who hit the ground running in the south of England. Less than a year after signing, it was rumoured that Manchester united and Chelsea were keen on the wonderkid and this prompted a first professional contract to be dished out to secure his services.
Moran is an attacking midfielder who can play in an advanced midfield role or in a wider position. The trademarks of his game include pacey direct driving runs but he has perhaps caught the eye for his ability to ghost past defenders with his quick, tricky feet and delicate ball control.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3BXaIEY9uQ
His tremendous balance and technical ability lead his former manager at the Brighton academy Mark Beard dubbing him ‘The Irish Phil Foden’. Despite operating with opposite feet, the comparison is a fair in terms of their playing style.
He epitomises the contemporary attacking midfielder who can operate equally comfortably in an inverted wide position or more centrally such as Foden, Mason Mount, Bernardo Silva and James Maddsion to name a few Premier League examples.
Graham Potter who’s Brighton side look like one of the most organised and functional in the Premier League in its early stages, stated in an interview with The Mirror that Moran is certainly in the frame to feature this season.
“I think he is still benefitting from the 21s. There will be some involvement with us over the season, I am pretty sure, because he has got quality. But he is in an area of the pitch where we have got a lot of good players as well. We have to just manage his pathway and manage his development.”
The teenager certainly represents a different type of midfielder to what Ireland have seen and despite still being eligible for under-19 level, he may end up serving a shorter apprenticeship in the underage ranks if his stock continues to rise.
Capped twice at under-21 level at 17, should Moran begin to get senior minutes at club level, he may be seen as the type of technical and creative force that is brilliantly suited to the international game and could be the latest promising youngster to be trusted b y Stephen Kenny.
Nick, The Green Machíne Podcast
