Hughes hails Reds squad strength
SHELDAN KEAY
ACCRINGTON Stanley defender Mark Hughes believes the talent within the squad can help the club have a successful season.
The Stanley players returned for pre-season training this week as they again attempt to battle with the big sides in League Two.
Stanley came agonisingly close to earning promotion during the 2015/16 campaign and gave it another good go during the latest season, and Hughes hopes the players can once more have a big impact this time around.
“We have got a good core of the squad who have been here quite a while and if we want to do something at this club then this season is a massive opportunity,” he told the club’s official website. “We’ve got players in our squad who are certainly good enough to play higher and if we can stay together this season there’s no reason why we can’t have a good season.”
Hughes is one of the more experienced players within the Accrington squad, and he admits that came extremely clear to him when pre-season said. “Pre-season gets harder because the lads seem to get a little bit younger and quicker and fitter but as you get older you manage yourself better and just seem able to get on with it.
“You can prepare yourself for what’s coming. Physically it gets a lot harder as you get older but mentally it gets easier if you see what I mean. You know your own body and how to manage it. There are younger lads coming in and fighting for the shirts but I’m not going to give mine up lightly just because I’ve hit 30.”