HUGHES SET TO SURPASS GREAT BOBBY
HEARTS star Aaron Hughes is set to break a long-standing record held by England legend Bobby Moore in Belfast this week but insists he can’t be compared with the 1966 World Cup winning captain.
On Thursday night at Windsor Park against world champions Germany, 37-year-old Hughes will become Britain’s most capped defender when he makes his 109th appearance for Northern Ireland, surpassing the previous best of 108 held by the late great Moore.
Hughes limped off in the early stages of Hearts’ defeat to Dundee yesterday and it will be a remarkable achievement for the centre-back , who retired from international football six years ago only to return in 2012 after Michael O’Neill took over as boss, if he can prove his fitness.
Since then he has become Northern Ireland’s first outfield player to win 100 caps and played in the Euro 2016 finals.
Hughes admitted: ‘This is probably the only comparison I could ever have with the great Bobby Moore! He’s on another level to what I’ll ever be on.
‘It’s brilliant to play that many times for Northern Ireland and to be mentioned in the same sentence as Bobby Moore in that respect, but I think the comparison pretty much ends there.
‘I’m just happy to still be involved. I’m enjoying my football and am motivated which is important. The World Cup qualifiers have gone as well as they could have on the back of the Euro campaign.
‘We are in with a good chance of making the World Cup playoffs and playing Germany at Windsor (Park) is going to be a great occasion. The atmosphere at Windsor will be incredible.’
After spells in Australia and India when it appeared his career was winding down, former Fulham ace Hughes joined Hearts last season.
‘Edinburgh is a lovely city to live in and I’m enjoying my football with Hearts. It’s a great club with ambition,’ he said.
‘Initially I had six months at Hearts and for them to see enough in me to offer me another year, I was delighted.’
Northern Ireland boss O’Neill added: ‘I know how much Aaron is enjoying his time at Hearts. It’s a fantastic achievement for him to surpass someone like Bobby Moore.’