Roberto De Zerbi praised ‘fantastic’ Evan Ferguson after his two-goal cup show – and backed him to get even better.

The Irish teen led the way as Albion beat Grimsby 5-0 in the last eight of the FA Cup.

The reward is a semi-final versus Manchester United at Wembley next month.

Ferguson produced two assured finishes as the Seagulls ran away with the tie in the second half.

Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma also netted to add to an early opener from Deniz Undav.

Head coach De Zerbi said: “Ferguson is a special striker.

“I’m working, and my staff are working, to improve him to become not only a No.9, not only a striker, but in terms of understanding the play, to receive the ball or to attack the space and not only one thing. To complete the player, to complete the guy.

“He is a very good guy and I think if you work with a clever guy it is nice because he understands immediately and he improves day by day.

“He is a fantastic striker, his quality is to score goals.

“But, in the Premier League, in the high level where he can arrive, it is not enough to score goals. You have to play, you have to understand the play.

“You have to play like a midfielder when you are far from the goal area and like a striker in the last 20 metres.

“We need Ferguson and (Danny) Welbeck to work like No.10, not only No.9.”