Slaven Bilic has admitted that Nathan Ferguson is not likely to play again for the club this season due to his ongoing contract situation.
The academy graduate was a real success story for Albion in the first part of the season, featuring in 21 games and generally impressing. Such form didn’t go unnoticed though, with a host of clubs, including Juventus and Atletic Madrid, linked with a move for the full-back who is out of contract in the summer.
Interest from those European giants didn’t materialise in January but a switch was on the cards, with Crystal Palace poised to sign the 19-year-old late in the window until a problem with his medical delayed things and it couldn’t be complete in time.
With the teenager needing to sort the injury with surgery, it has been unclear on when he will return, however Bilic gave an update on the player today, along with Jonathan Leko and Sam Field, who are on loan at Charlton, when speaking to the Express & Star.
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The Croatian revealed that Ferguson shouldn’t be ‘too far’ away from returning to training but he implied that his apparent desire to join Palace in the summer and contract standoff means he won’t be playing for Albion again.
“Sam’s injury didn’t look that serious, he did have a set-back but he should be fit now. With Jonathan and Nathan, they shouldn’t be too far from being able to come back and train. We will see.
“Jonathan and Sam are Charlton players. With Nathan it’s a bit different, it’s complicated with his contract situation of course.”
It remains to be seen whether Albion winning promotion and offering Premier League football, like Palace, would influence Ferguson’s decision on whether he should stay. Bilic’s men are currently six points clear of third place with nine games left to play in the Championship.