Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ferguson caps fine career breakthrough
ABERDEEN boss Stephen Glass has advised Lewis Ferguson to keep impressing at club level to earn his big-money transfer.
Ferguson’s profile, and inevitably his value, increased when making a senior international breakthrough during the recent World Cup qualifiers.
The 22-year-old earned a debut cap late on in the 2-0 loss to Group F leaders Denmark, then came off the bench in the vital 1-0 defeat of Austria.
Crucially Ferguson earned his debut Scotland cap whilst still an Aberdeen player as the Reds emerged from the summer transfer window with the midfielder still at Pittodrie.
Ferguson’s debut appearance against Denmark came the day after the window closed.
Aberdeen rejected an offer of less than £2m in May from Premier League Watford for Ferguson.
The rejection of that offer from the English top-flight outfit prompted Ferguson to slap in a transfer request.
Glass hailed Ferguson’s professionalism in not letting uncertainty about his future affect his form as he earned a deserved Scotland breakthrough.
The Dons boss has told Ferguson if he wants to land a big move the best way to do it is by shining for his club.
Glass said: “Speaking to Lewis, I said if you do want away then there’s one thing that gets you that and it’s performing for Aberdeen.
“It’s the same with Scotland. You want to play for the national team then you have to perform for your club.
“It goes without saying, whether you want away or not, people might come and try to buy you anyway.
“Good performances at club level are what good professionals make their name on and Lewis is a top, top professional.” Ferguson was one of the first names on the Aberdeen teamsheet under former manager Derek McInnes.
He has retained that importance under Glass and is set to make his 134th appearance for Aberdeen at the weekend when they face Motherwell away in the Premiership.
Ferguson made his Dons debut in the Europa League against Burnley following his move from Hamilton in 2018 – and has remained a pivotal player since.
Of those previous 133 games, he has started 132. The only time Ferguson has been named as a substitute during his three years at Pittodrie was in the League Cup tie at Championship Raith Rovers last month.
Aberdeen lost 2-1 to the lower league side.
Glass said: “Since we’ve come back in April, Lewis has been brilliant.
“The call-up was reward for the work and the dedication he’s put in over a number of years.
“I’m really proud of him. He’s deserved it.
“It feels like a long road sometimes for a guy of his age to get your first cap but everyone at the club is delighted for him.”
It was a mark of the trust national manager Steve Clarke has in Ferguson that he introduced the midfielder as a late substitute in Vienna.
Austria were pushing forward looking for an equaliser which would have landed a major blow to Scotland’s World Cup qualifying bid.
Ferguson slotted effortlessly into the side and helped the Scots see out a vital win and Glass said: “It shows what Stevie Clarke thinks of him and the trust he has in him.
“It would be easy to go away and not get on the pitch but the reward for him is a tangible thing in that he’s got two caps.”