Lewis Ferguson returns to Bologna with the rhythm of a player who has found his full stride again. The international break has not been a pause for the Scotland midfielder, but a demanding confirmation that the long recovery from injury is now giving way to continuity.
The decision
Ferguson has completed all 90 minutes in each of Scotland’s three Nations League matches under head coach Pocognoli. Other players have been rotated, but the Bologna captain has remained in the middle of the side throughout, a significant signal after a period in which his body and place in the team had required patience.
Scotland face Slovenia in their fourth match tomorrow, while Bologna will be watching closely. Raffaele Palladino may have preferred a quieter international window for one of his central midfielders, yet the extended run is also evidence that Ferguson’s engine is working at full capacity.
The 26-year-old’s route back has not been straightforward. On 13 April 2024, against Monza, he suffered a serious knee injury involving a cruciate ligament rupture and further damage. He returned, but last season was still largely about recovering his old authority: he started 32 matches across more than 40 appearances.
That process did include one defining moment. As Bologna captain, Ferguson lifted the Coppa Italia on 14 May 2025. Now, however, there are stronger indications that he is no longer simply catching up with the demands of elite football.
His future was considered after the World Cup, where he also scored for Scotland. Rangers, the club closely tied to his family through his father Derek and uncle Barry, made an approach. Ferguson admitted that he gave his situation considerable thought, but said he had not come close to leaving Bologna.
“After the World Cup I thought deeply about my future and there was some uncertainty, but I was never really on the verge of going,” Ferguson said. “When I came back for pre-season, we had a new coach in Tedesco and it felt like starting again. Then there was another change with Palladino, so in the last two months I have had three different coaches, including Pocognoli with Scotland.”
He chose Bologna, a club where he said he had loved every moment. Rangers remains a personal ambition rather than an immediate plan. “It is the dream, but I am not thinking about it now,” he added.
For Palladino, that decision matters as much as the international minutes. Ferguson has already produced 401 accurate passes across the first five Serie A rounds, the highest figure among midfielders in the division. Bologna need that reliability as they attempt to build momentum in the standings.
Sunday’s picture
Bologna are due to travel to Lecce on Sunday, with Ferguson’s availability to be assessed after Scotland’s meeting with Slovenia. His three complete international appearances make the management of the coming days important, but they also offer reassurance.
The midfielder who once had to measure every step of his return is again being treated as indispensable by his national side. Bologna will hope that same authority can carry into the next part of their Serie A campaign.
