LEWIS IS MOVING UP IN WORLD

Serie A star Ferguson had to wait for his Scotland chance but now he's loving role under Clarke

- BY KEITH JACKSON

FOR Lewis Ferguson this whole thing has been quite some waiting game.

It has been three years since his first Scotland call up and, at times, it has probably seemed even longer.

Always part of Steve Clarke's squad and yet permanently left on the periphery of the action. That has been pretty much the way of things, even when he was ripping the Italian top flight up in his breakthrough season at Bologna.

Ferguson was crowned as the best No.8 in Serie A. And yet he was seen by Clarke as this country's fourth or fifth best central-midfield option.

Up until now. New campaign, new order. Ferguson started against Denmark on Friday night, forcing Billy Gilmour to take his old seat on the manager's bench.

And he retained his place in Zalaegerszeg on Monday night as Scotland completed a tricky opening doubleheader in Group C by beating Belarus to make it four points out of six. This feels very much as if Ferguson's international career has left the launchpad at long last.

And, at the age of 26, he's more than ready for the ride still to come.

He said: "Yeah, I always knew I was going to have to be patient.

The quality in the middle of the park is really good so I knew I had to be patient and that eventually my time would come.

"I obviously spoke to the manager about that and he explained to me the way he's seen it.