O’Neill hopes ‘phenomonal’ Hughes plays on
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’ Neill will respect whatever decision Aaron Hughes makes on his retirement, even if he hopes today’s friendly against Costa Rica is not the veteran’s final game.
Hughes is expected to make his 112th appearance for his country, just seven shy of equalling Pat Jennings’ record.
Such is the 38- yearold’s longevity with the Green and White Army, he shared a pitch in Panama this week with Everton teenager Shayne Lavery, a player who was born after he made his international bow in 1998.
Hughes is yet to determine whether he will carry on his career after this tour, though his club side, Hearts, have expressed a willingness to offer him fresh terms should he decide to continue.
“I would like Aaron to play as long as possible – he’s so close to the record,” O’Neill said.
“Aaron has earned the right to make that decision.
“I think the second half of the season has been good for him. The problem he had was the frustration of the injuries.
“I know they would be very keen for him to sign again at Hearts.
“He probably needs a wee bit of evaluation, ‘Do I want to go on?’
“It’s 20 years solid of first-team football, hotels, international football.
“Aaron, for me, is still capable of playing on, not only at club level but international level.
“I genuinely hope he does. If he made the decision to retire, I’d be disappointed as I want him in the squad, but I also respect that what he’s given us has been phenomenal.”
O’Neill named a strong team against Panama in midweek and is likely to bring the youngsters off the bench again, having given three players their debuts on Tuesday night.
Of those, Jordan Thompson is searching for a new club having been released by Rangers, and Shayne Lavery is yet to make his senior debut for Everton.
“We don’t want to just give the guys game time for the sake of it, they have to earn it,” O’Neill said.
“We’re hoping that this is the first step of many.
“Having a taste of it, it gives them that wee incentive to go back to their clubs and push on.”
One player not in Central America that O’Neill is hoping can also obtain regular first-team football is Norwich goal keeper Michael McGovern.
One of the Northern Irish stars at Euro 2016, he was his country’s firstchoice stopper during the qualifiers, but the emergence of Trevor Carson and Bailey Peacock-Farrell has provided McGovern with some genuine rivals.