EVEN MY DAD’S A DANDY DON NOW, SAYS PITTODRIE STAR FERGUSON
Ferguson hails support of father Derek BEN PALMER
IF Lewis Ferguson ever needed proof that his famous father has bought into his progress at Aberdeen, it finally arrived at Pittodrie last Sunday.
Never mind the midfielder’s spectacular overhead-kick goal against Burnley last season shortly after his arrival from Hamilton, or his Betfred Cup semi-final clincher against Rangers.
When his Dons team-mate Ryan Hedges scored a dramatic late winner against Hearts, Ferguson was greeted with the astounding sight of dad Derek celebrating with the scrum of Aberdeen players from his seat at the front of the stand.
At that moment, Derek Ferguson looked more like a diehard Dons fan than the man who graced midfield for both Rangers and the Tynecastle side.
‘I haven’t spoken to him about it,’ admitted 19-year-old Ferguson with a grin yesterday. ‘He was sitting down in the front seats, so he must just have got caught up in it. That’s just part of the game.’
Ferguson Senior is obviously proud of his boy and everything he’s achieved so far in the Granite City.
He’ll be even more delighted this evening when Lewis makes his 50th appearance for Aberdeen in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier with Rijeka in Croatia.
Ferguson has belied his tender years to become a first-pick for Derek McInnes in his first 12 months in the north east.
Whether against the likes of Rovaniemi in Finland or Chikhura Sachkhere in Georgia, he is always right there in the middle of the park.
His goal against Burnley at Turf Moor was one of his highlights of last season, even though the Dons were
eventually knocked out of the Europa League after extra-time.
Tonight is the team’s fifth game in UEFA competition this term — and Ferguson is enjoying his travels.
‘Playing in Europe is different class,’ he said. ‘I never thought for a minute a couple of years ago, when I was at Hamilton, that I’d be playing in Europe within a few years.
‘That’s surprised me a bit. I just take everything in my stride and take every game as it comes.
‘Last year, we only got a wee taste of it (European competition) because it was just the one tie. But when you’re playing every week, it starts to feel real.
‘It’s something I always wanted to do, play in Europe and test myself in places like this.’ A regular face in Scotland Under-21 squads, so impressive has been Ferguson’s domestic form that he has been tipped to make the breakthrough to Steve Clarke’s senior side this term.
‘It would be massive,’ said the youngster. ‘It would be an honour to play for Scotland or even to get called up.
‘I don’t really think too much about it. I just go out and try to perform for Aberdeen. If and when that does come, I’ll take it. Obviously, it would be a very proud moment but I don’t think too much about it.’
Despite his youth, little seems to faze Ferguson. Indeed, he didn’t even know that this evening would serve as a milestone moment until minutes before meeting the media last night.
‘I never even realised. I was just told there. It’s come as a bit of a surprise,’ he said.
‘I don’t know why I haven’t really thought about it. It’s nice to hear that.
‘You can never really think that you’re going to go straight into a side and make your mark because you don’t know what can happen in football.
‘Obviously, that was my aim to come up and go straight into the team, work as hard as possible and show the staff and boys what I was capable of.
‘I performed well and, since then, I’ve never really looked back. I’ve always looked forward and just tried to perform to the best of my ability.’
Ferguson will play alongside Funso Ojo and, most likely, Jon Gallagher, in midfield tonight.
Despite their arrivals and the capture of marquee summer signing Craig Bryson, it seems unlikely that the dynamic young Ferguson will be dropped at any point.
With Ojo content to sit in front of the defence and do the dirty work, it allows Ferguson to express himself in the forward areas.
Already this season, he has racked up three assists and scored once — against Rovaniemi in the Dons’ 2-1 victory in Finland last month.
‘If the goals and the assists come, then that’s just a bonus,’ he said.
‘It’s been difficult over the last few weeks because we’ve been playing Thursday then Sunday, so it’s tough on the legs.
‘But we’ve been playing well and, hopefully, we can take a positive result back home.’