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By JOHN MCGARRY Published: 03: 44 AEDT, 22 January 2026 | Updated: 03: 46 AEDT, 22 January 2026 View comments With each passing year, Lewis Ferguson has steadily ticked off the list of career goals he compiled shortly after making his professional debut for Hamilton Accies. He became a mainstay in the SPFL before winning a move to Aberdeen. He then developed further as a player and earned full international recognition. A life-changing move to Bologna followed, with his first piece of silverware coming in the form of the Coppa Italia last year. At the age of 26, there’s plenty time to achieve more in the game, yet tonight might well be his last chance to right one wrong which has dogged him throughout his journey in the game. Ferguson’s first crack at beating Celtic was on April 8, 2018, when he replaced Darian Mac Kinnon in a 2-1 loss at New Douglas Park. All told, in the red of both Accies and the Dons, the midfielder would go on to face the Parkhead men on 16 occasions. He’s yet to sample that winning feeling. Lewis Ferguson celebrates after leading Bologna to Coppa Italia triumph last season Ferguson is desperate to face Celtic after admitting he's never beaten them in 16 attempts Lewis Ferguson during his Hamilton Accies days with dad Derek, the former Rangers player It’s a regrettable statistic which provides him with an added edge ahead of the Europa League showdown in the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium. ‘Every time I’ve faced Celtic, they’ve been strong, they’ve been really good, ’ he reflected. ‘I’ve faced them a lot of times when I was at Aberdeen when we had a good team. ‘They were always just better than us on the day. It was difficult, but they were such a good side and still are a really good team. ‘It doesn’t look too good, 16 times but never won. .. so tomorrow I’ll definitely be looking to change that. ‘It was probably the first game I looked at when the draw came out. Being against Celtic, it’s nice to play against a Scottish team. ‘I’ve spoken to the analysts a couple of times this week. They do all their work and watch all the videos, as you would expect. ‘So, I’ve not had to give them too much detail. Of course, I follow Scottish football. I watch a lot of Celtic. Ferguson admits his uncle, Rangers legend Barry Ferguson, above, would love his nephew's Bologna side to beat Celtic on Thursday evening Scotland midfielder Ferguson slots home a goal for Bologna in Serie A match with AS Roma ‘I know their players obviously better than the players here do. We’re looking forward to it and we’re ready. If we want to reach the top eight, then we need to win this game. ’ Ferguson won’t need any pre-match pep talks to remind him of what’s expected on Thursday evening. If his winless run against Celtic extends to a 17th match, it goes without saying that father Derek and uncle Barry, both former Rangers stalwarts, will be somewhat displeased. ‘Everybody’s at home, ’ he said of his family. ‘I don’t think my dad wanted to take a flight out and be surrounded by Celtic fans. So, my family will be at home and watching from Scotland. ‘I’ve obviously spoken to my dad a lot over the last couple of weeks, just about things in general, not too much about the game. ‘I’ve not had a chance to speak to (Barry) recently about this game. But I think I know his thoughts on it! I know who he wants to win, that’s pretty clear. ’ There is an element of doubt about how big a part Ferguson will play. Although still club captain, he’s been introduced as a substitute by manager Vincenzo Italiano in Bologna’s last three matches. For really the first time since he established himself in the Accies’ team, Ferguson has had to become accustomed to watching matches from the bench. . It’s been a disconcerting experience. ‘It’s been a bit of a frustration, probably because I’m not used to it, ’ he admitted. ‘I’m 26 now and, maybe for the first time in my career, I’ve not been a regular starter. ‘So, it is a little bit difficult, but you just need to learn to deal with it. That’s football and it happens to everyone. Sometimes you have ups and downs and that’s just part of the game. Despite being skipper, Ferguson has been in and out of Bologna team recently, and is desperate to feature from start against Celtic ‘You just need to learn to deal with it - and I’m dealing with it. I’m still working away and still working hard every day to get back in the team and, when I’m in the team, to try and stay there. ’ With the World Cup on the horizon, it’s a mildly concerning situation. Steve Clarke hasn’t yet shared his views on the matter with Ferguson, hopeful that normal service can be resumed in short order. ‘I’ve not had any conversations with him as of yet, ’ he explained. ‘Like I said, it’s normal. It’s obviously just not normal for me. I’ve not been used to it, so I’ve been finding it a little bit hard to deal with it, being in and out. ‘It’s just football, it happens to everybody. You just deal with it and you still just do the same work that you do every time and perform as best as you can. ‘Obviously when the time comes around for the national team, I’m hoping I’ll still be in the gaffer’s thoughts. ’ The prospect of featuring in this summer’s tournament would be huge enough for Ferguson anyway, but the anguish he felt at missing out in Germany at Euro 2024 with a crucial ligament injury ensures making the 26-man squad holds added significance. ‘Yeah, massive, ’ he said. ‘I missed out on the Euros and it was devastating. So, to have that at the end of the season as a motivation and a focal point, it’s something to look forward to. ‘I’m sure every other Scottish player, guys that are in the squad, guys that are maybe on the fringes, guys that are out of the squad, everybody will be thinking the same thing. So, hopefully I can stay fit and be performing at a good level when it comes around. Ferguson savoured his Coppa Italia success with Bologna, and wants more glory in future Ferguson hopes to be in Steve Clarke's thoughts when he picks Scotland World Cup squad ‘It’s an exciting time to be a Scotland player and to be a Scotland fan. It’s just something that we can all look forward to. ’ Appearing on such a stage was all part of the grand plan when he swapped the north of Scotland for the north of Italy. Now into his fourth season at Bologna, Ferguson’s contentment with life on and off the park was underscored when he recently signed a new contract through to 2028. ‘It’s been amazing, ’ he reflected. ‘I was still pretty young when I made the move, I was only 22. ‘I was relatively experienced in the SPFL, played a lot of football but, outwith that, to step up to a different level, another league, different country, different language - everything sort of changes, your life changes and you become a man. ‘You learn every day and, over the past four years, I can say that, first and foremost, I’ve become a better person and I’ve definitely become a better footballer. That’s in terms of everything - physicality, tactically, technically. I’ve learned a lot. ’

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