Exclusive: Ex-Crystal Palace & West Brom man who "burst onto scene" told what he must do to win Portsmouth deal | OneFootball

Don Goodman has spoken exclusively to FLW about Portsmouth taking Nathan Ferguson on trial.

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes Nathan Ferguson will have to prove his fitness to Portsmouth manager John Mousinho, as links over a move to Fratton Park have emerged.

The former West Brom academy graduate took his first steps in senior football under the management of Slaven Bilic at The Hawthorns, playing a key role for the first half of their 2019-20 promotion season to the Premier League.

An impressive term led to the defender making a move to the top-flight with Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020, but the now 24-year-old has been badly hampered by consistent injury issues.

The former England youth international has been a free agent since departing Selhurst Park last summer, but now a move back down to the Championship is emerging, with Ferguson reportedly linking up with Portsmouth’s training camp in Slovakia for a trial, as he chases a move to the South Coast.

With this news in mind, Don Goodman has issued his thoughts to FLW over a potential switch.

Don Goodman insists Nathan Ferguson must prove his fitness and quality to earn Portsmouth chance

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has outlined his concerns over Nathan Ferguson’s inability to play regular first-team football, believing he needs to show he can stay fit to be worth a punt.

Goodman said: “It's quite a sad story really, the Nathan Ferguson story.

"He burst on the scene at West Bromwich Albion as a trainee, got in the first team, played 21 games for West Bromwich Albion and then left. Got an opportunity to go on a free to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and injuries have just absolutely ravaged his career.

“The last first team appearance he made was at Crystal Palace, where he got eight minutes in 2021-22, so from 2021-22, it's a long time not to have played senior football.

"So he needs to prove his fitness, and he needs to look good in doing so, and if he does that, then John Mousinho will be the judge of whether he's worth a little gamble or not.”

Portsmouth, Nathan Ferguson could be worth the risk

Even though he’s been in the English game for a long time, Ferguson is still only 24, with a lot of time left to resurrect his career.

After such a dismal last few seasons contending with injuries, Ferguson will be eager to prove he still has what it takes to make it back to the top levels, and is sure to give everything to the cause at Fratton Park to be a success and play regular football - should he win a contract with Portsmouth.

The fact he has played so few games will naturally be of a major concern to John Mousinho, but the club will act in its best interests and know whether he is worth signing after this trial period.

The bottom line is that Ferguson still has huge potential. He slotted into the Championship with ease as a teenager, with Crystal Palace viewing the defender as a big enough prospect to recruit all those years ago.

His quality and versatility is undoubtedly there, but he just needs a home that can help keep him fit to demonstrate his talent.

If this can happen, then Portsmouth