The Premier League stalwart knows a thing or two about forging a top level career.
When James Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds back in 2002, Evan Ferguson hadn't even been born, but now the two find themselves teammates at opposite stages of their careers.
Milner, who signed on a free transfer for Brighton from Liverpool during the summer transfer window, has immediately taken on a leadership role at the south coast club.
Speaking to the Times this weekend ahead of his side's 3-1 home defeat at the hands of West Ham, the man who sits third on the list of the Premier League's all-time appearance makers, gave his opinion on the future career of Evan Ferguson.
Ferguson, who is still just 18 years of age, finished last season as the top teenage scorer in the Premier League, a feat which has left him subject to much transfer speculation of his own this summer.
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Ferguson finished last season as the teenager with the most goals in the Premier League. (Credit: Getty Images)[/caption]
Milner helping Evan Ferguson reach full potential:
Describing the talent of the former Bohs youngster, Milner said, "Evan is so young, and lethal around the box with his finishing."
Although the 37-year-old was keen to also point out that Ferguson can still improve as a player, saying, "Again, there are lots of areas where he can get even better very easily and he's so good already. It just shows the potential he has."
Discussing his own role in helping Brighton's youngsters like the Irish forward, Milner added, "As you get older it's my job to help them as much as I can. I've been a senior player since 24 because I started at 16 though."
"I see the quality here and it's how we can get them from showing glimpses of greatness to consistently doing it, doing the right things, living the right way.
"Our job as senior players is to get them to their potential as quick as possible," Milner concluded.
It is not just the former Liverpool man who has been lavishing praise upon Ferguson though, with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi describing "how lucky we are to have him" this week.
Remarking upon the influence of both Ferguson and teammate Julio Enciso, De Zerbi said, "Both are bigger than their real age. They are already very important players in the Premier League."
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