Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ferguson brushes off move speculation to focus on here and now
SCOTLAND midfielder Lewis Ferguson will continue focusing on the here and now as he gets ready for what could be a momentous few months.
The former Hamilton and Aberdeen player helped Bologna to their third top-10 Serie A finish this century in his debut campaign, and is now captaining the team as they challenge for a Champions League spot.
With Bologna fourth in the table and Ferguson attracting interest from some of Italy’s top clubs, Scotland’s record Serie A goalscorer is loving life in his new home. However, he is still working hard to achieve a regular starting place with Scotland ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
The 24-year-old is yet to start a competitive game for his country and 10 of his 12 caps have been won from the bench, the latest in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland.
“It’s so competitive, we probably have the best midfield we have had in God knows how long, so it’s a difficult team to break into,” he said. “But I am always positive, always working hard, trying to perform at my club and just see where it takes me.
“When I get my chance, I have to take it and impress the manager and get as many minutes as possible.
“I have improved massively as a player and a person moving country and, over the past year and a half, it couldn’t have gone any better for me.
“I love it over there, I am enjoying my football, and long may it continue. I love the country, love the league, love the football, everything about it. I have bought into it and I enjoy living there, so I can see myself staying over there for another few years.”
Ferguson has brushed off speculation linking him with moves to the likes of Juventus and Napoli.
“I don’t really read anything into it to be honest, it just goes right over my head,” he said.
“I don’t really think too much about the future, I just think about what game is coming next.”
Ferguson came off the bench late in the first half after Andy Robertson was forced off with an ankle injury and came as close as any Scotland player to finding the net, when his header was tipped over.
“It was frustrating – not quite the standards we have set ourselves,” he said. “But we just have to dust ourselves down and try and take all the positives we can from the last week.”