 He made his competitive debut in the 1983–84 season and within a year became a first team regular at Ibrox.He showed his early promise to a wide audience with his performances alongside fellow young midfielder Ian Durrant in the Scottish League Cup finals of 1986 (in which he was named man of the match) and 1987.However, over the next couple of seasons Ferguson gradually fell out of favour at Ibrox, a tempestuous relationship with manager Graeme Souness preventing him from developing as expected; Ian Ferguson (no relation) and veteran Ray Wilkins were often preferred in the position.