Hartlepool United midfielder set to miss next two matches after being called up to Guyana national team
Hartlepool United midfielder Nathan Ferguson has been called up to the Guyana national team for their upcoming internationals against Dominica and Belize.
The 30-year-old, who has scored once in 11 appearances for the Golden Jaguars, has endured a difficult time since signing for Pools as a free agent in September last year.
Despite arriving with plenty of National League experience thanks to spells with Southend United, Wealdstone, where he found the net 11 times in 91 matches, and Maidenhead United, Ferguson has struggled to make any sort of impression at Victoria Park.
Indeed, the midfielder has been reduced to just one start and nine substitute appearances in the National League and appears to have fallen from favour altogether under manager Nicky Featherstone.
Ferguson's sole start to date came in Featherstone's first league game at the helm, a 3-3 draw against relegation-threatened Sutton United. Having struggled to make his mark on the contest, the former Crawley Town man's loose pass cost his side a goal at Gander Green Lane and he appears to have fallen well down the pecking order since then.
It hasn't been all bad for the midfielder, whose venomous effort salvaged Pools an FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay against Northern Premier League Premier Division side Gainsborough Trinity when it cannoned off the crossbar, against the unfortunate David Hobson and over the line but Ferguson has done little else to state his case.
In fact, Ferguson has recently found himself omitted from several matchday squads and appears to be behind the likes of Nathan Sheron, Jack Hunter and Jamie Miley in Featherstone's thinking, with his most recent Pools appearance coming at the end of January.
Ferguson now looks all but certain to leave Victoria Park at the end of the season, with Pools preparing for a hugely significant summer, the first since American businessman and investor Landon Smith completed his takeover of the club.
In all likelihood, then, a chance to link up with the Guyana national team will serve as a welcome distraction for the out of favour midfielder.
The Golden Jaguars, who are ranked 151st in the world, have won all of their last three matches ahead of fixtures against Dominica and Belize.
Ferguson's international commitments means he is set to miss Pools' trips to Morecambe, who are three points adrift of safety despite a significant upturn in form under Jim Bentley, and Wealdstone, one of his former sides.