Roma's Evan Ferguson pictured earlier today. Alamy Stock Photo

Evan Ferguson an unused sub as Roma boss reveals 'ankle issue'

The Ireland international was held in reserve during the win 2-1 at Fiorentina.

Updated at 21.42

ROMA PREVAILED on Sunday after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Fiorentina, throwing down the gauntlet to Napoli and AC Milan, while Troy Parrott made his return to action in the Eredivisie.

Ireland international Evan Ferguson was an unused substitute during the Serie A game, with Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini revealing the player was not brought off the bench because of an ankle injury.

“Ferguson had an ankle problem and was unable to play,” Gasperini said afterwards, per football-italia.net.

The Meath native is a key player for the national team and has been expected to feature in World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia on 11 and 14 October.

The extent of Ferguson’s injury is unclear, as is whether it will impact the player’s participation in the upcoming Ireland games after he was named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s 24-man squad on Thursday.

The 20-year-old has yet to score in seven competitive appearances since joining the Italian club, but did find the net for the Boys in Green in Yerevan last month, as well as in the home tie with Hungary.

Matias Soule and Bryan Cristante struck in the first half in Florence.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side are on 15 points after a third straight win in Italy’s top flight, which came after going behind to a Moise Kean rocket in the 14th minute.

Kean almost added to his first goal of the season when he smashed another powerful effort off the post in the 38th minute, not long after Cristante had headed Roma into the lead.

Also in Italy, Man United loanee Rasmus Hojlund struck again for Napoli with the decisive goal in a 2-1 win over struggling Genoa, a strike which lifted the Serie A champions into top spot.

Fresh from his midweek double against Sporting Lisbon, Hojlund was on hand to score on the rebound with 15 minutes remaining as Napoli came from behind to claim three points in Naples.

alkmaar-netherlands-05th-oct-2025-alkmaar-netherlands-october-5-mexx-meerdink-of-az-alkmaar-hugging-troy-parrott-of-az-alkmaar-during-the-dutch-eredivisie-match-between-az-and-telstar-at-afas Mexx Meerdink of AZ Alkmaar hugging Troy Parrott during the Dutch Eredivisie match between AZ and Telstar at AFAS Stadion. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Elsewhere in the Eredivisie, Parrott made a 70th-minute substitute appearance as his AZ Alkmaar side won 2-1 at home to Telstar, leaving them a point behind Ajax in fourth.

The Dubliner was included in Ireland’s squad named on Thursday, and Hallgrímsson expressed hope that he would be fit enough to play some part in the games.

sevilla-spain-05th-oct-2025-alexis-sanchez-of-sevilla-fc-celebrates-after-scoring-the-1-0-during-the-la-liga-ea-sports-match-between-sevilla-fc-and-fc-barcelona-played-at-ramon-sanchez-pizjuan-sta Alexis Sanchez of Sevilla FC celebrates after scoring. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Meanwhile, Spanish champions Barcelona collapsed in a shock 4-1 demolition at Sevilla in La Liga, with Alexis Sanchez scoring against his former side and Robert Lewandowski missing a penalty for the visitors.

The Catalans sit second in the table after their first defeat of the campaign, two points behind bitter rivals Real Madrid after their victory over Villarreal on Saturday, while Sevilla rise provisionally to fourth.

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

– © AFP 2025

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