Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

DID YOU KNOW?

Versatile midfielder Shane Ferguson reached the 50-cap milestone for Northern Ireland in the friendly against Estonia in September – and he scored a memorable winner into the bargain. Here Marshall Gillespie looks back at his Northern Ireland career to date.

Shane won his first full international cap while

As well as passing the half century of appearances for his country, Ferguson also won 11 caps without scoring for the U21 side. He scored three goals in 16 outings for the under-19 team while he played eight games for the U17s, again without finding the net . Ferguson was handed his full Northern Ireland debut by former manager Nigel Worthington when he came on as a 78th minute sub for Corry Evans in a 3-0 friendly defeat to Italy in Pisa on 6 June 2009. He was actually one of eight players to make their international debuts that evening. He was also aged just 17 years and 329 days which, at the time, made him the 10th youngest player ever to represent Northern Ireland.

playing for Newcastle United and went on to play 10 times for his country while at St James’ Park. He clocked up a further eight appearances while on loan at Birmingham City, 31 during his six years at Millwall and three caps with his current employers Rotherham United.

Ferguson has started 33 of his 52 appearances for his country, being substituted in 21 of them. He has also been an unused substitute on no fewer than 27 occasions. Shane’s full playing record at senior international level is: P W D L W% D% L% 52 17 13 22 33 25 42

Shane has chalked up four assists in a green shirt . Two of them have led to goals from Kyle Lafferty, while he has also managed assists for Gareth McAuley versus Portugal and Martin Paterson versus Luxembourg, both in September 2013.

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NIR V LTU