Evan Ferguson says he feels in his best shape yet as he targets Wembley.

The Albion striker underlined his return to fitness and form with the winner for Republic of Ireland against Finland in Dublin.

His fourth international goal - and first for 13 months – followed his recent strike for the Seagulls against Wolves.

A barren patch of almost a year was partly down to an ankle injury.

He said: “I’m getting there. It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be since surgery.

“It’s hard to say, as soon as it happens, a timeline. It just depends on your body, but I’m glad I didn’t rush it and now I’m back and I’m feeling good and I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in.”

Ferguson soared at the far post to head in a cross delivered by Mikey Johnston.

But he said he has had to learn to cope with the criticism that life at international level can bring.

He added: “It’s hard to turn off all media, but I think anyone who is looking at Irish football knows that all talk is sort of negative about it.

“Even with the win tonight, I’d say there’ll be a lot of negative [opinions] about it. But you just have to try and block it out and try to do your best.

“That’s the way it has been, and especially since I’ve been in. For nearly two years now, it’s always been that way and it’s stayed that way, so we just need to try and turn it around.

“It’s obviously a lot more negative than positive, so I think we just sort of said we’ll stay away and come together as a team. Whatever anyone says, they don’t play football.”

Sights are now on facing England at Wembley tomorrow (5pm).