Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson targets first career win over Celtic

Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson is targeting a first career win over Celtic on Thursday as the Scotland midfielder prepares to renew old rivalries.

The former Hamilton and Aberdeen midfielder has played the Scottish champions on 16 occasions and lost 13 times, despite scoring seven goals himself in those matches.

Ferguson now gets a chance to amend that statistic when Bologna host Celtic in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

“I have never really thought about it to be honest,” he said. “Every time I’ve faced Celtic, they’ve been strong, they’ve been really good.

“I 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.

“But I’m obviously looking to go and change that stat. Maybe it doesn’t look too good, 16 times but never won so I’ll definitely be looking to change that.

“It was probably the first game I looked at when the draw came out. Obviously it’s nice to play against a Scottish team. We’re looking forward to it, we’re ready. If we want to get in the top eight then we need to win this game.”

Ferguson is looking to force his way back into the starting line-up after coming off the bench in the last three games.

Having led the club to Coppa Italia success last season after recovering from a serious knee injury, the midfielder finds himself facing another battle to regain his place in the team.

“It’s been a bit of a frustration, probably because I’m not used to it,” he said. “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 football, 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.”

Ferguson will not have any family at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, with his father – former Rangers midfielder Derek Ferguson – deciding against the journey.

“Everybody’s at home,” he said. “I don’t think my dad wanted to take a flight out and be surrounded by Celtic fans. My family will be at home and watching from Scotland.”

Ferguson was also asked by the Italian media whether he had spoken to his uncle, former Rangers captain and interim manager Barry Ferguson, about the match.

“I’ve not had a chance to speak to him recently to talk about this game,” he said. “But I think I know his thoughts on it. I know who he wants to win, that’s pretty clear.

“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.”