Oliver Glasner has taken his Crystal Palace squad to Marbella for the international break – where it may be last chance saloon for Nathan Ferguson.
The 23-year-old has been named as part of the Austrian’s squad for the mid-season trip to Spain, where the Eagles will play a friendly against Norwegian outfit Bodø/Glimt.
So, why is this period so important for Nathan Ferguson at Crystal Palace? Let’s take a look…
Nathan Ferguson playing for his Crystal Palace future
Well, the defender’s contract expires this summer, and he is running out of time to prove himself.
Crystal Palace had already extended Ferguson’s contract by a further 12 months after it expired in June 2023 – to give him more time to bounce back from his horrific injury problems.
The man from Birmingham then seemed close to stepping up his comeback in a Premier League International Cup clash against Monaco back in October, but suffered a serious hamstring injury.
Ferguson has only just regained fitness following that incident, appearing for the U21 side in a recent Premier League 2 win over Stoke at the bet365 Stadium, grabbing an assist in the 3-1 victory.
Now – however – it is time for the Crystal Palace No.36 to show Glasner that he is worthy of another contract.
Ferguson might get a few minutes in the friendly against Bodø/Glimt, but if he fails to impress – or suffers another injury setback – it may be the first and only time Glasner plays him, as chances are unlikely to arise in the Premier League amid a relegation battle.
The 49-year-old has already opened the door for Ferguson to shine, telling the South London Press: “We’ve talked about him and I know about his past, about his many injuries.
“He did well now he came back, he’s a good player but now it’s important to stay fit, to stay healthy and then he can show all his qualities. We will help him and we will support him that he stays fit now and then will be the moment where we speak about him.”
Decision to make
Steve Parish showed a lot of empathy to extend Ferguson’s contract last year, recognising his nightmarish battle against injuries.
However – while football holds plenty of room for emotion – it is a business at the end of the day.
Ferguson is believed to earn £25,000-a-week at Selhurst Park, and Parish cannot justify extending that agreement if the Englishman keeps suffering fitness issues.
Hopefully, Ferguson can make a breakthrough under Glasner, as it would be a real shame to see him depart as a free agent after a horrible fight against injuries.
