Souness denies injured Ferguson is homesick

Alan Nixon
Thursday 11 March 2004 01:00 GMT
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The Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, has denied rumours that Barry Ferguson is homesick and wants to go back to Rangers.

The Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, has denied rumours that Barry Ferguson is homesick and wants to go back to Rangers.

Souness was shocked to discover his £7m signing is being linked with a return to Glasgow because he has failed to settle in Lancashire. The Rovers manager has backed Ferguson all the way despite a difficult start to his time in England and said yesterday: "I don't know anything about Barry wanting to leave."

Ferguson is making good progress in his rehabilitation after a broken kneecap and is scheduled to be in contention for a first-team return next month.

The club's Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso revealed yesterday that he was involved in persuading Ferguson to go to Ewood Park. Amoruso joined the Premiership side last summer and former Rangers captain Ferguson moved south in August. Neither enjoyed the best of starts to life in England with injuries curtailing their involvement so far this season.

Amoruso and midfielder Ferguson had just started to show their best form before they suffered serious knee injuries. The fact that they can share their rehabilitation at Blackburn is down in part to the Italian.

"If Barry is here today it's thanks to me," he said. "I'm not saying I made the deal. But I spoke to Barry in Glasgow and to the manager here and during the week between the two."

Amoruso still has hopes of turning out for Scotland. Berti Vogts played down any chance of selecting him but Amoruso may be hoping for a U-turn after Scotland's 4-0 defeat in Wales.

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