Lewis Ferguson starts Bologna rehab early as Scotland star looks to future after Thiago Motta heart-to-heart

Lewis Ferguson is already ahead of schedule in his injury recovery after starting his rehab a week early.

The Scotland star suffered a heartbreaking cruciate ligament injury playing for Champions League chasers Bologna against Monza in Serie A and went under the knife last week. He is expected to be out until November and that means he missed out on Euro 2024 this summer.

Ferguson was supposed to wait up to ten days to start his rehabilitation but after his operation went well, he reported to the Isokinetic Rehabilitation Centre in Bologna a week earlier than expected. The 24-year-old's teammates paid tribute to him ahead of their game against Roma on Monday, with a victory helping them on their way to UCL qualification.

Manager Thiago Motta has now revealed he had a heart-to-heart with ex-Aberdeen man about the Euros disappointment but also looking to the future.

Motta said: "We talked about missing the European Championships with Scotland in the summer.

"He's very sad about it, but he knows there is nothing he can do about it and he cannot turn back the clock.

"And as I told him, there will be more major tournaments for him with his country in the future."