Are you Reddy for this guy?
CANNING: Gers slayer Lewis has so much talent he’s like the new James McCarthy
MARTIN CANNING is not surprised to see Lewis Ferguson starring at Hampden as the Hamilton boss is convinced the kid is following the same path to the top as James McCarthy.
The 19-year-old midfielder was the Betfred Cup goal hero for Aberdeen at the weekend as his late winner sank
Rangers and set up a silverware crack at Celtic in December.
Canning might have been gutted to see the teenager depart for Pittodrie in the summer but he insisted he’s delighted to see his former charge shine on the big stage.
There’s no way Ferguson is done yet either. The Accies boss has witnessed a similar talent at New Douglas Park and that player ended up with a lounge named after him as well as banking the club a fortune. McCarthy remains the poster boy for Accies’ youth system after making his first-team debut at just 15, earning a £1.5million move to Wigan and establishing himself as a Premier League regular following a £13m switch to Everton.
Canning can see parallels with Ferguson and he has no doubt the youngster can follow in the Republic of Ireland star’s footsteps.
Canning said: “Lewis has just got that mentality, nothing fazes him. Young James McCarthy had a similar kind of mentality. Lewis reminds me of James.
“They were almost 27-year-old men in 17-year-old bodies, their mind was way more mature than their age.
“They’ve got maturity and footballing knowledge, which is good. That’s just natural.
“He’s got the mentality, quality, size, physique and the knack to score big goals in big games.
“If he continues to go the way he’s going there’s no doubt he can kick on again.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes insisted Ferguson was born for the big time. Canning clocked it from the first time he took the kid on a pre-season trip to Spain.
He said: “Lewis has always been like that. When he was 16 or 17 he was coming away with the first-team squad to Marbella
Lewis has got the mentality, quality, size, physique and the knack to score big goals in big games MARTIN CANNING
to do pre-season training. He had to be patient to get his opportunity to get in the team, which he did, and he played every game.
“Even when he came in for us full-time he’d been playing Under-17s and you’re waiting in that first year to see what he’ll do.
“We’re thinking, ‘If we get him through he’ll maybe play a couple of 20s games’ and he played pretty much every 20s game that season. He just took to it straight away and played the whole season.”
Ferguson’s name appearing in the Northern Lights still leaves a bittersweet taste for Canning.
He was gutted the youngster jumped ship in the summer and the cash settlement as compo will be small change compared to the kickback when he makes another step up.
There are no hard feelings though and Canning said: “Maybe with Fergie it wasn’t the time we’d have liked for him to move on but that’s football.
“We wouldn’t have chosen to lose him when we did. We always say if you come through we give you the opportunity to get into the first team.
“That’s what we’re looking for our kids to go do – come through here and do well for us.
“When we’re selling this club to young players, we say we give you the opportunity to play first-team football and when the timing’s right you move on to a club you can maybe compete for or win trophies at. It proves we’re doing our job right.
“The other night we’ve got the kids in the UEFA Youth League, so the next batch are coming again and as a club that’s what we’re trying to do.
“We lost Greg Docherty to Rangers as well for good money, so the club’s making money and we’re getting the benefit of the players while they’re here.”
Canning is happy to see Ferguson flourish – but he’s hoping the midfielder has an off night when Accies head to Aberdeen tomorrow.
Fellow former Hamilton lad Mikey Devlin is also impressing in the north east and it gives his old gaffer a sense of pride.
He said: “I made Michael the captain here when he was 21 or 22. That tells you what I think of him. It’s great to see them doing well – I get enjoyment out of that.”
Canning will need to keep tabs on the pair as Accies look to build on Saturday’s draw with Kilmarnock against a Dons side struck by cup fever.
He said: “It was a good day for them on Sunday and I’m sure they’ll take that momentum into Wednesday but we need to make sure we’re ready for it.
“It’s difficult going to Pittodrie but we’re capable of going to hard places and picking up points. We can get the win.”