Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE’RE NOW EQUIPPED FOR TITLE BATTLE
Second-time round proving more enjoyable for Hughes as the quality of Newry squad is keeping standards high
A LOT has changed at Newry City since Daniel Hughes first played for the club but the striker is helping fire a revitalised club closer to promotion to the top-flight.
Hughes left the County Down outfit almost a decade ago as they went bust, before a phoenix club was born and enjoyed a rapid rise through the divisions.
Hughes, alongside his brothers Stephen and Mark, joined neighbours Warrenpoint Town and his goals helped fire them into the top-flight in 2013 before scoring 30 Premiership goals across his first two seasons at that level.
Stints at Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts followed before ‘Dingo’ returned to the Newry Showgrounds this summer and is now leading the attack once again.
Hughes, 29, explained to Match on Tuesday: “For eight years I had been travelling every week for training and games, then it gets to a point where you stop enjoying that aspect of it.
“With Covid and the restrictions on what you could do after training made things more difficult, then I was not playing regularly either.
“I kept picking up niggling injuries and was at the point where I had that decision to make.
“The key thing for me was to start enjoying my football again and Newry was the best place for that.
“I do not see it as a case of dropping down divisions, as the Championship is so competitive and this is a club who aim to be in the top-flight.
“I knew the people at Newry inside out and it was not like joining a new club, it was so natural for me to fit in.
“Then you are playing regularly and chipping in regularly with goals too which makes it that bit easier.”
Earlier this month, Newry confirmed that Mark Hughes – club captain and Daniel’s brother – has departed the club, but the County Down side have no shortage of strength in depth.
“We are in a position we are in despite having a lot of injuries and a difficult patch of results,” Hughes continued.
“That is a
huge credit to the squad and players who have stepped in – there is competition throughout the squad and nobody is guaranteed a starting place. “For a club with our ambitions, that is what you need; nobody can afford to get complacent and everyone is kept on their toes.
“Mark leaving the club was a decision he has taken due to approaching his 37th birthday and getting to that age where he wants to feel like he is contributing at a club while he still can.
“He wants to play every Saturday and to enjoy the final stage of his career, but
everyone at Newry understands this and is thankful for what he has helped achieve at the club.”
Daniel has bagged six goals this season, the latest of which came on Saturday as he opened the scoring in a 2-1 victory at H&W Welders.
With Newry conceding the first goal in nine of their opening 14 league games this campaign, a quick start was vital and they have now returned to the top of the standings.
Hughes added: “We needed a fast start and to get onto the front foot from the off and we managed to do that.
“Saturday was the first time this season we had a full squad of players available all season and that is a big boost for us.
“It is always nice to be top of the league but I would never pay attention to the league table until after Christmas because the situation can change from week to week.
“Now our objective must be to get back-to-back victories and build a run of momentum but we have to play Ballinamallard next, and they beat us by three goals in our last meeting.
“For whatever reason, our performances on the road this season have been better – maybe it is because opposition teams come out a little bit more at us, but we have been consistent in away games.”
■ Newry host Ballinamallard on Saturday, with a 3pm kick-off at the Showgrounds.
For a club with our ambitions, that is what you need; nobody can afford to get complacent and everyone is kept on their toes.