Good news for Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna after a trying period. The Rossoblù played a small-field match with tactical work just two days after their league draw in Genoa and their Champions League defeat at Aston Villa. The development came as welcome relief, as Lewis Ferguson, the central figure in Bologna’s historic Champions League qualification last season, has finally returned to group training after a six-month layoff due to a right knee injury.
Ferguson, who missed the last six championship games and the first eight of this season, has been working on different individual sessions with Martin Erlic and Michel Aebischer, and receiving therapy with Oussama El Azzouzi. His return to the group, however, signals a significant step in his recovery.
Israeli coach Vincenzo Italiano may already be considering including Ferguson in the list of players called up for the upcoming championship match, to be held at the Dall’Ara stadium against Paulo Fonseca’s Milan. The official list is usually released a day before the match, but it’s not hard to imagine that the team’s manager would have high hopes for the talented central midfielder.
Ferguson’s rehabilitation has been a long and arduous process, having suffered a rupture of his right cruciate ligament before the 33rd matchday of the 2023/24 championship. The incident ruled him out of the European Championships with his national team and forced him to miss several crucial matches, including the team’s historic Champions League qualification.
Despite the setback, Ferguson’s return to group training is a testament to his perseverance and the dedication of the Bologna medical staff. As he moves closer to full fitness, fans can only hope that he will be able to make a meaningful impact on the team’s chances in the upcoming season.
