OPENING DOORS
Ferguson knows more goals can help his Scotland dream become a reality
LEWIS FERGUSON hopes grabbing more goals for Aberdeen this season could help propel him into contention for a place in Steve Clarke’s Euro 2020 plans. The 20-year-old knows there could be scope to break into the established pool of Scotland midfielders if neither John McGinn nor Scott McTominay recover from their injury issues ahead of the play-off semi-final against Israel in March.
Delivering at club level is an obvious prerequisite, with a greater penalty-box potency high on Ferguson’s wish list for the second half of the season after just two goals so far this term.
Delivering for Derek McInnes is therefore the immediate priority, but the former Hamilton youngster is clear about his international ambitions after becoming a regular in Scot Gemmill’s Under-21 set-up.
‘I think it’s every boy’s dream and aspiration to play for their country,’ said Ferguson, as he considered his aims for the year at Aberdeen’s winter training camp in Dubai.
‘It’s always been one for me. When I was younger, it was to get into the Under-19 squad, then 21s. The next step after that is obviously the senior squad, so that is an aspiration of mine to go and play there.
‘Whether it is this year or next, it is always in the back of my head.
‘Scotland have some big games coming up and they are ones everyone wants to play in. Huge games with a lot of pressure on them.
‘Every player who is fit will be looking to get into that squad because the games are so important.’
Ferguson appreciates the quality of the competition. Indeed, he admits drawing inspiration from the performance heights being scaled by Scotland’s existing central midfielders.
Ryan Jack, Callum McGregor and McGinn formed an effective triumvirate for the November victories over Cyprus and Kazakhstan, but the Aston Villa stand-out and Manchester United contemporary McTominay are both facing significant recovery periods.
McGinn’s fractured ankle could take three months to heal. McTominay’s position is less clear, but he was this week pictured using crutches and wearing a knee brace.
‘Those are two important Premier League players and it does open the door,’ said Ferguson. ‘It opens the door for a lot of Scottish midfielders and I’m sure we will all be looking at that spot if it is up for grabs and the boys don’t make it back in time.
‘I just have to look to perform as well as I can for Aberdeen and hopefully good things will come.
‘There are a lot of top players in there for Scotland. You have Premier League guys playing week in, week out and you can’t get much better than the best league in the world.
‘It’s an aim for me to get to that level. I’m not quite there yet, but that is the aim. You can only look up and try and get better to get as close to them as possible.’
Injuries to Aberdeen team-mates have meant Ferguson’s natural box-to-box instincts have had to be curtailed for much of this season.
With Funso Ojo and Craig Bryson sidelined, he has sometimes been the only fit and established central midfielder available to McInnes. However, the recent addition of
Dylan McGeouch on a two-and-a-half-year contract should significantly strengthen things.
‘At times I have been playing a lot deeper this season, because of the injuries I haven’t got as far forward as I would have liked,’ reflected Ferguson. ‘Guys like Craig and Funso have been out for a while, so I knew I needed to shoulder some of the responsibility.
‘I know I am still young, but it was something I was conscious of and I felt I had to take it on. We didn’t have the experience we wanted in there, but I’m in a position where you need to take responsibility.
‘It’s something I would never shy away from, I enjoy it and it can only help me as a player and as a person. We have Dylan in there now and Craig will help me, too.
‘I want to add goals to my game and that’s another obvious target for me. I think we have a good balance to our midfield now. I have spoken to the manager and hopefully I will be able to find the freedom to push forward. I want to help big Sam (Cosgrove) and chip in. I think that’s something we are all working towards.’ Those injury woes have impacted upon Aberdeen’s consistency as a whole. They sit a point behind third-placed Motherwell and 14 adrift of a resurgent Rangers after the first half of the season.
Ferguson is realistic about their Premiership target, but feels a Scottish Cup run — which kicks off with a fourth-round tie against Dumbarton next weekend — can provide a route towards silverware.
‘We are aiming for that third spot in the league, I think it will be too difficult to claw back the Old Firm,’ he added. ‘They are pulling away from everybody. Of course, we want to get as close to them as possible.
‘We speak about our aims at the start of every season. It is always to be as high up in the league as we possibly can. We are usually up there, but also we always want to get on a run in both cups — get to Hampden and see what we can do.
‘Last year, we were unlucky. We got to the final of the League Cup and the semis of the Scottish and were put out by a good Celtic side on both occasions. I think we were pretty unlucky in that sense.
‘Hopefully, the disappointment of going out of the League Cup this season (to Hearts) will give us the motivation to go and get on a run and get ourselves to Hampden.
‘In a one-off game, we can beat anyone. But every game is tough. There will be no easy Scottish Cup games but you have to go in with confidence you can get through.’
I am still young but in a position where you must take responsibility