Hurzeler on Ferguson, development and injuries

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Evan Ferguson "trained for the first time yesterday" and is "an option to play".

• On if he would be OK if Ferguson left, Hurzeler said: "I want to keep working with him but it's important to discuss what's important for development. We want to improve the players and help him. We need an exchange - we need to see what makes sense for the player and the next six months for the club - we'll make a decision together."

• On why the striker's career has stuttered: "It's difficult if you have small issues - you can't get in a rhythm, you need to get him stable and consistently on the pitch. He doesn't forget how to score goals. He's still a big danger for every team. He shows he has an unbelievable skill in every training session - it's for us to help him get this shape back - where he once was."

• He added he sees Ferguson's "long term future here", adding: "His profile is really rare, a clear number nine. Players have to show the potential, we talk about how good he was - we know he has the potential and he has to prove it and show it every day."

• He believes Brighton "have everything here" for player's development, stating: "The perfect infrastucutre, good staff, experts, good environment, good atmosphere, people who are very patient and I demand the players use these things and get back into their best shape."

• Hurzeler thinks Pervis Estupinan, Solly March and Mats Wieffer will all be unavailable for Saturday's game.

• He refused to comment on links to Derby's Eiran Cashin and said: "I don't talk about other players at other clubs."

• On Forest: "There is always one team that surprises everyone - this season it is Nottingham Forest. You see their individual quality, they have a lot, players who have played a long time in the Premier League. For some experts it's not surprising, but they're getting the results and are always finding a way to win games."

• On Tariq Lamptey: "Every time he plays, he does quite well - he's always a danger when he has his attacking patterns. It's about game time - he needs to adapt to this position. I'm very happy he can play on the left side."

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