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Ferguson has a notable admirer but injury worries continue

But the on-loan Albion striker is facing more injury concerns at Roma.

Ferguson has been ruled out with an ankle problem.

He will not return for the league game at home to Cremonese on Sunday.

And Italian media report there is no indication as to when he will be back.

Rome-based daily newspaper Il Messaggero reported: “Ferguson is still struggling with persistent discomfort that is preventing him from returning to the team.

“The medical staff is proceeding with extreme caution, but there is currently no certainty about his recovery time. This is a worrying situation.”

Ferguson has had a stop-start season in Italy but earned praise from head coach Gian Piero Gasperini for a hard-working performance in the 2-0 win over Stuttgart in the Europa League on January 22.

That remains his most recent outing for now.

Since then, Donyell Malen has seized the spotlight after arriving from Aston Villa with doubles in successive games against Cagliari and Napoli.

But Gasperini would love to have Ferguson among his striker rotation as Roma tackle the Europa League while also chasing a European qualifying spot in Serie A.

Ferguson has an admirer in Andrea Carnevale, the former Roma and Italy target man who initially led the attack for the Azzurri at Italia 90 before losing his place to Salvatore Schillaci.

Carnevale is now director of scouting at Udinese and was interviewed by Gazzetta Dello Sport ahead of the clash between Napoli, with whom he won two league titles alongside Diego Maradona, and Roma.

He said: “I also like Ferguson and I'll joke, if he were at Udinese, he probably would have exploded!

“But, with Malen, it seems to me that Gasperini has solved his goal-scoring problem.”

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