The 19-year-old has been linked with a loan move to Sunderland in recent weeks.
Ferguson said: “This is going to be a big season for Danny because for the last three years he has not had a consistent run of games.
“I sent him to Preston as you know last year. He got an injury almost right away. He only played five games and ended up having an operation on his knee.
“One of the things about Danny that may have caused the injury is that he is still growing. He has a weakness in his legs with the speed he is growing.
“He is about 6ft 2ins and a bit now. He has sprouted up in the last year and a half. So he needs consistent football. He needs to play all the time and that is one of the reasons we are considering sending him on loan again to a premier division team.”
