'Incredible' Ferguson continues to shine for Bologna

Rome-based journalist Alasdair Mackenzie has poured praise on "all-round package" Lewis Ferguson as the Scotland midfielder continues to shine in Serie A for Bologna.

The former Aberdeen man has six goals and five assists in all competitions this season, and has captained I Rossoblu since October in what has been a remarkable campaign.

They have won their last six league games and currently sit fourth in Italy's top flight, above the likes of Roma, Lazio and Napoli.

"He's been a sensation," Mackenzie told the Scottish Football Podcast. "He's been one of the biggest sensations of the biggest sensation in Serie A.

"He's just scored a winning goal against Atalanta over the weekend, a game that was fourth v fifth. That was a huge result for Bologna, put them four points clear in fourth place.

"They've never qualified for the Champions League before, and suddenly they're in this amazing spot. Their coach Thiago Motta has really been the mastermind of this happening, but Lewis Ferguson's his guy, his go-to guy."

Motta - who won two Champions Leagues as a player at Barcelona and Inter Milan - has also given Ferguson glowing praise.

Mackenzie added: "[Motta] said after the [Atalanta] match, 'It doesn't matter about the goal. I always give this guy 10 out of 10 every week anyway, because he's such a warrior'.

"When you look at the league stats, he's got the second highest average distance covered.

"Even if you look at a team sheet and he's down as a number 10, he's not really sitting as a number 10 throughout a game, he's covering every area of the pitch.

"He's really been the all-around package because he's been scoring goals, he's been creating goals, he's been working in both phases, defensively and in attack.

"He's been incredible really, considering this is only his second season playing in an entirely new league, and in a quite a sophisticated style of football under Motta. It's been an incredibly successful move for him."