SAINT MARK
Hughes to the rescue
MARK HUGHES will make a return to management this week after being picked by Southampton to save them from the drop.
Hughes spent yesterday locked in talks with Saints following the south coast club’s decision to sack Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday night.
The former Wales boss, 54, has been out of work since being axed by fellow strugglers Stoke in January.
But the Manchester United legend, who has taken charge of almost 450 Premier League games, has never been relegated.
Hughes has also taken charge of Manchester City, Blackburn and QPR and played 52 league games for Southampton in the late 1990s.
The Saints board turned to Sparky after ex-Watford boss Marco Silva ruled himself out of the running.
Hughes’ first task will be to reunite a divided squad. Pellegrino was battling against a number of cliques and training ground tension near the end of his nine-month reign.
The Argentinian had a stand-up row with midfielder Mario Lemina in front of shocked team-mates after accusing the former Juventus ace of not being 100 per cent committed.
Pellegrino also fell out with England winger Nathan Redmond and Italy striker Manolo Gabbiadini.
Hughes will face a daunting end-ofseason run-in, with five of the club’s final eight games away from home.
Pellegrino only took over from Claude Puel last summer but club legend Matt Le Tissier says a negative playing style cost the former Liverpool defender his job. Toothless Saints have averaged less than a goal a game this season and Le Tissier said: “It’s probably very similar to last season.
“The club had become accustomed under Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman of having a team very much on the front foot, creating lots of chances, goals and giving the big boys a run for their money.
“Unfortunately in the last couple of seasons that hasn’t been the case.
“Whenever a manager goes that long, winning one game in 17, everybody understands the guy is under serious pressure.”
Pellegrino would have been sacked at the end of the season regardless of whether Southampton stayed up but vice-chairman of football Les Reed accelerated that decision following Saturday’s shambolic 3-0 defeat away to Newcastle.