Players have waited for chances to come up, some have taken them, others have not really on the whole, with some others not even being given this chance for whatever reason… Richard Hughes became the latest to get his chance on Boxing Day when he stepped in for the Arsenal game – and boy did he take this chance!
After finding out only a couple of hours before the game that he would start – just to have been in the 16 would have been a bonus to him – he did a fantastic job and as he told The News he hopes this was enough to keep him in the side this weekend: ‘You always hope that after getting in the side, you can get a run in the team.
‘But I accept that it is a squad game.
‘It’s everyone’s aim to get in the team and stay in the team, but to do that you have to stay patient, work hard in training and hope to get an opportunity.
‘I’m not stupid. I know the team has been playing really well this season and we’re the highest the club has been for goodness knows how many years.
‘So I knew it was up to me to take my opportunity when it came along. Now I just want to work hard and hopefully keep my place for Saturday, but it’s up to the manager to think about that’.
Hughes always does a job when called upon, I really cannot recall a time when he has let us down and I was delighted – if not a little surprised – when he stepped in again, but as always put in a fantastic showing to give Harry Redknapp a selection headache.
If Redknapp persists – as is likely – with his 4-5-1 against Boro then there can be no doubt that Hughes will retain his place as he did more than enough, so even if Sean Davis and Pedro Mendes were available – which both seem unlikely – he should have still done enough.
Even if Redknapp does make a switch to 4-4-2 then others should be more worried about their place than Hughes, well if I was selecting the side they would anyway, but of course I am not…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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