McCall had, only two days earlier, expressed fears that four of the club's five Newcastle United recruits, among them Ferguson, would not play for Rangers again during the rest of their loan period which runs until the end of this season.
However he was consequently bemused when told yesterday that the midfielder had been named in Michael O'Neill's squad for the Hampden friendly given the extent to which it contradicted what he had been told.
Stuart McCall: "I've just been informed of it myself this second by the broadcasters.
"I don't know anything about it. I don't know the reasons behind it.
"Obviously he's contracted to us but as far as I was concerned he was going to be out for a fair length of time when I spoke to the doc when I came in here and he's certainly not been up here so, yeah, I was a bit stunned."
John Carver, Newcastle's manager, had been reported at the weekend as saying that Ferguson might be available sooner when saying: "Young Fergie is almost ready. He's two or three weeks away from going up to Rangers to continue his loan."
Rather than show any sign of irritation McCall breezily welcomed that news.
"That's not what I've been told but if that's the case then great," he responded.