WE’LL GO ON AARON
PREMIERSHIP GORGIE GOAL
AARON HUGHES has targeted a career first next season as he sets his sights on silverware with Hearts.
The Northern Ireland star has been capped more times for his country than anyone else – his current total is 104 appearances – and played for some of the biggest clubs in England.
He has represented Newcastle in the Champions League, gone all the way to the UEFA Cup Final with Fulham and in his prime won a £1million move to Aston Villa.
Yet Hughes, 37, has no winners’ medals and his first six months at Tynecastle since joining from Indian side Kerala Blasters in January also ended trophyless.
However, he is adamant that can all change next term despite Hearts’ disappointment of missing out on Europe after their 2-1 defeat at Rangers.
Hughes said: “Celtic are on another level particularly with their budget from the Champions League and it will be difficult for any side to catch them over a whole season, although not impossible.
“We can compete with the others and challenge for a European spot. A realistic goal must also be for us to bring a bit of silverware to the club. We have the new stand opening and must have goals to aim for. We are capable of doing it.
“There’s a lot of good things happening here but we’ve fallen down on results. Let’s get away for the summer, build on what we’ve done, take it out onto the pitch and start getting points.
“There are exciting times ahead. Third place is a realistic target and should be for a club such as Hearts. The responsibility is on the players to take the club forward, it’s not solely on the manager.
“We must not be afraid and embrace the challenge of taking a team into Europe or even a final and winning silverware. I’ve actually never won anything in my career for all the games I’ve played and it would be something I’d love to do.”
Ian Cathro has only won six of 24 games as Hearts manager but was encouraged by aspects of his side’s display at Ibrox, although surely not his defence.
Hughes is a wily and disciplined organiser at the back but Prince Buaben looked a square peg in a round hole long before he tugged at Josh Windass on 28 minutes and got himself sent off.
Hearts looked better placed with 10 men as they took advantage of the lack of quality in the Rangers midfield to boss the second half for large spells, even if they missed a killer touch.
Hughes added: “For a team with only 10 men we were always well in the game and gave ourselves a chance. We didn’t get the result we wanted but there were so many positives.
“If we can take that into the last couple of games, build on it from the start of next season and onwards, it gives us a good foundation and a better chance of being successful.”
When Hearts equalised the first thing skipper Don Cowie did was leap on under-fire boss Cathro in celebration.
Hughes added: “He believes very much in what he wants to do and that we can turn the corner. We are all behind him. He is working extremely hard. At times, we have to step up and take it too.”