McInnes confident Ferguson will sign new Aberdeen deal

It was reported after those Hampden heroics that McInnes was preparing to offer Ferguson fresh terms just four months on from his Accies switch, but while talks have begun the Scotland Under-21 ace has yet to put pen to paper.

That has alarmed some members of the Red Army, who fear their young midfield battler could follow Scott McKenna onto the wish lists of cash-rich clubs down south.

McInnes, though, is remaining relaxed as he predicted Ferguson will become a firm fixture in the Granite City for years to come.

He said: "There's no real panic on that side of it (his contract). We're pretty relaxed and confident we can get Lewis extended.

"He's clearly enjoying it here and his performances are an indication of that as well. He's someone who's going to have a good career ahead of him and is certainly going about it in the right way.

"Hopefully we've got Lewis for many years to come and that was the intention when we signed him and it's still the intention now."

McInnes may not feel quite so laid back about skipper Graeme Shinnie and wideman Gary Mackay-Steven's contract situations, with both players' deals set to expire this summer.

But the Pittodrie boss will not let the duo depart without a fight.

He said: "Both Graeme and Gary we've spoken to again briefly this week and hopefully we can get some news on that in the next week or so.

"I don't want it to dominate every press conference and it won't, but until both lads tell me they're not going to sign then we continue to push and try convince them that staying at Aberdeen is the best thing for them.

"There's nothing more to add to it at the minute, but hopefully we can get some good news in the coming weeks."

The Dons host Oran Kearney's new-look St Mirren on Saturday and McInnes expects to see more from the basement Buddies as they gel in 11 January recruits into their line-up.

"Oran's getting a wee bit of a handle on the new signings and I feel as though, despite all that's happened, they are still in a three-team fight really to stay in the league," said McInnes on Saints, who sit three points adrift of Dundee at the bottom.

"Every game is very important for each team for their own cause. From our point of view, whether St Mirren are making those improvements or not it's important we continue to search for our own improvements and try get the three points that's available."

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