Serie A gong caps special season for Scots star in Italy
Crocked Scotland star Lewis Ferguson has won the prestigious Bulgarelli Award for the best midfielder in Serie A. The Bologna ace underwent surgery last week after being ruled out until at least November following a cruciate ligament injury that meant he would miss the European Championships with Scotland in Germany. However, the ex-aberdeen ace has been recognised for his outstanding season – with Bologna set to clinch a Champions League spot – after being named as the winner of the 2024 Bulgarelli Award voted for by a panel set up by the Italian Footballers’ Association. Ferguson follows in the footsteps of previous winners Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Daniele De Rossi. The award was also previously won by Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Yaya Toure when the accolade was open to all European competitions before it changed to a Serie A-only honour. The award is named after a legendary former Bologna and Italy player, Giacomo Bulgarelli, who helped them to their last Serie A title. Ferguson will be in esteemed company when he collects his award tomorrow – Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi has won the Best Manager gong and legendary keeper Gianluigi Buffon will receive a lifetime achievement award. The 24-year-old has scored 13 Serie A goals in two seasons after 58 starts and was awarded the captaincy by Bologna boss Thiago Motta in October last year.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Euro 2024 rivals Switzerland have been hit with a triple injury blow. Steve Clarke’s side have been battered with injury setbacks, Nathan Patterson joining Ferguson as definitely missing out while there are doubts surrounding Aaron Hickey, Stuart Armstrong and Billy Gilmour.
But the Swiss, who face Scotland in the second game of the tournament in Cologne, have major problems of their own in the countdown to the Euros.
Murat Yakin’s side will definitely be without Sevilla midfielder Djibril Sow, who has a broken toe and won’t be back in time for the tournament. Monaco midfielder Denis Zakaria picked up a hamstring injury time this week and is rated as a major doubt.
And key defender, 80-times capped Newcastle United star Fabian Schar is also struggling after being ruled out for the season also with a hamstring injury. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “Fabian will be out for a while with a hamstring problem and I doubt that we will see him again this season.”