Surreal night Hughes made his debut at the Camp Nou
EX-UNITED ACE TELLS OF GLORY DAYS AT CLUB AND FIRST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FORMER Newcastle United defender Aaron Hughes has opened up on his favourite memories from his decade on Tyneside.
The Northern Ireland international signed for the Magpies as a 15-year-old, and broke into the first team just two years later.
Hughes kept his place in the squad under the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson, making 279 appearances in the famous black and white before moving to Aston Villa.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 39-year-old struggles to pick out one favourite moment from his spell with the Magpies.
Picking out famous victories over Manchester United and Liverpool and his debut at the Camp Nou, the defender’s fondest memories come from the Sir Bobby Robson era and playing in the Champions League.
Hughes said: “Individually, there are a little moments like debuts and my first goal. My first game at St James’ was two weeks after my debut against Dynamo Kiev. That was pretty special – even a little bit more so as it was at St James’ Park.
“I think on a bigger level, playing Champions League football and winning games against the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool but it is hard to pick one moment out of everything over that period of time where it was a reasonably successful spell for the club.
“To be involved in that period when Sir Bobby was here and playing Champions League football, you can’t really ask for much more as a player so that hits home a bit more in how good it was.”
Hughes first taste of first-team action came in the Champions League clash away to Barcelona on November 26, 1997.
Phillipe Albert’s illness saw the Northern Irish defender step on to the pitch to become the club’s then-youngest European appearance maker – coming just 18 days after his 18th birthday.
Hughes recalled a “surreal” atmosphere with Barcelona fans boycotting the match because the Catalans couldn’t qualify from the group.
He continued: “It’s nice to have on the CV and it’s nice when people say ‘oh, you made your debut at the Nou Camp.’
“The reality may be wasn’t glamorous as the surroundings but it was my debut. It could have been anywhere and it would have been a special moment. I was immensely proud at the time.
“It was more so the surrealness of the stadium being half empty and it was a weird sort of atmosphere. Then you had all the Newcastle fans stuck way up in the rafters.
“For some reason, I can’t remember bits of the game at all but I remember is that scene.
“Darren Peacock had gone off in the first half and Philippe then came off at half-time for me to go on. It was five minutes to go before the restart and Kenny (Dalglish) at the time looked around and went ‘get your gear on, we’ll throw you on.’
“I didn’t have time to think about it.
I remember walking out of the tunnel up on to the pitch to get out there for the second half.
“It was literally a couple of seconds and I have this image in my head of the Barcelona tunnel and making sure my shin pads were tucked down my socks properly!”
Hughes retired in the summer following 22 years in the sport, and returned to St James’ Park to watch United’s goalless draw with Brighton in September.
The defender believes the squad at Steve Bruce’s disposal is as good as any in the Premier League, but the division as a whole has become more competitive.
Hughes said: “The margins now are so fine and before you could sort of predict the top seven or eight, the middle block and then the three or four teams who could go
down. “Nowadays, although you’ve got the two or three teams who will be competing at the top, anyone can stay up or go down. The squad that Newcastle have are as good as any squad in the Premier League but that’s just because it is so close at the minute. “There were a couple of years where Newcastle were bouncing up and down but the Premier League is where they should be. Like every team, if they can constantly be adding to the squad here and there to bolster what they’ve already got, it keeps them where they should be. “It’s very hard to predict because of the nature of the Premier League. You look at what Newcastle did against Spurs a few weeks ago. Nobody would have given them a chance and they came away with a win.” Newcastle’s victory over Manchester United lifted the club out of the relegation zone. Premier League debutant Matty Longstaff deservedly stole the headlines, partnering with his brother Sean in the heart of middle and firing home the winner in front of the Gallowgate. Hughes says the North Shields brothers are doing the club proud, and states it is “vital” the club continue to produce players from the academy. He said: “There’s always been a history of producing players and it’s always good to see, especially in modern day football too when I think it’s harder now for young kids to get into the squad. “Teams can now pick players from all over the world.
“To have kids coming through the academy, of the quality of the lads that are here, and being established in the team and not looking out of place is vital. It’s vital to give hope for the next generation that are coming through and gives value to your academy.”
The squad that Newcastle have are as good as any squad in the Premier League Aaron Hughes