Watson: Hughes Can Tear Stoke To Shreds

Last updated : 27 September 2002 By Rob Cooper

Hughes (left) battles for the ball
Hughes (left) battles for the ball
Former Rotherham captain Watson, believes that Hughes can provide the creative spark that will bag all three points for the Royals.

Away from the Madejski it is Hughes' goals that have got Reading their two victories thus far. A brace at Walsall last month was followed up by a thirty-five yard wonderstrike during the 1-0 win at Molineux last weekend.

With five men packed into the midfield Watson expects Hughes, the extra man, to exploit the space he finds himself.

"With three central midfielders it gives us an extra man and Hughesy is running teams ragged as they just can't track him. His energy levels are amazing. He just never stops running and I wouldn't look forward to marking him, it would be so frustrating," said Watson, speaking to the Reading Evening Post.

"The way we played at Wolves, we had myself and Ricky Newman sitting in front of the back four protecting the back three, giving Hughesy licence to get forward."

Hughsey got the headlines for his goal at Wolves but Watson was quick to remind fans that it was he that supplied the pass.

"It worked well and Hughesy produced a great goal. I played the ball to him and I'll remind him of that – an assist is an assist."

Twenty-four-year-old Hughes, a former Notts County player, seems to have endless energy tirelessly making runs fore ninety minutes, something Watson appreciates he is not capable of.

"If I was given the job of marking him I think I'd be subbed at half-time. It's a job I wouldn't imagine anyone would want."