Having lost yet another bet – I backed QPR in 90 minutes – I had to chuckle when waking to read the match report on the EUROSPORT site on my laptop. After spending yesterday morning with Tony Jimenez at his Thomson Reuters office in Aldgate to give answer some more questions from football supporters from all over the world I explained to my friend the importance of professionalism. I mean that from playing the game to writing a book or performing a night out in front of an audience at a pub or club anywhere in England. I am at this moment enjoying doing such a thing in the company of Martin Knight, who is also professional in everything he does. We have fun and that also is important in today’s word when the everyday news on our TV screens is so devastatingly disturbing. Anyhow, even after the disappointment of losing my bet I still had to chuckle at hoe EUROSPORT made Charlie Austin yet when looking beneath the reason why give you the marks out of ten, it needs no further explaining from yours truly. The only thing I must add is that I have tried to get work on sites such as this but don’t even get a reply and with the World Cup coming up I think the public deserve better, after all EUROSPORT is a massive concern, have your own chuckle whilst spotting the horrendous cock-up… EUROSPORT MAN OF THE MATCH Charlie Austin (QPR): A classic performance from the forward. The former Burnley man struck his 19th and 20th goals of the season and how important those goals may prove to be. Trailing by a goal, Austin stepped up and calmly stroked home the penalty before latching onto a Bobby Zamora pass – who was brilliant all evening – to sneak his side in front. He was the difference. EUROSPORT PLAYER RATINGS Queens Park Rangers: Green 8, Simpson 7, Dunne 6, Hill 6, Austin 7, Doyle 6, Onuoha 8, Barton 8, Kranjcar 8, Hoilett 7, O’Neil 6. Substitutes: Yun 6, Morrison 6, Zamora 8. Wigan Athletic: Carson 7, Perch 7, Boyce 8, Caldwell 7, Kiernan 6, Beausejour 6, McArthur 6, Gomez 6, McManaman 7, McClean 7, Maloney 7. Substitutes: Espinoza 7, Barnett 6, Waghorn 6. This result had an extraordinary outcome, when you look at the season that involved Harry Redknapp bringing in the former England Head Coach Steve McLaren to aid him in his quest to get Rangers back into the Premier League, which was something else that had me chuckling, for what the hell are Kevin Bond, my old Seattle Sounder team mate, and Joe Jordan, a former opponent of mine in the 70s, supposed to be doing there? The Rangers were going great guns in the early season under McLaren until he left for pastures new to turn around the fortunes of Derby County, after Nigel Clough was sacked.

The other thing that bothers me is that young Hughes was born within a stones thrown from the Chelsea Training Ground in Cobham, Surrey and that must be a great concern to those supporting my old club, because if Chelsea are missing young, fresh, talented players like Hughes w=then the future of Chelsea, and England is becoming bleaker, In other words, say that you have a talented son who wants to pull the Chelsea Blue over his head, after watching Hughes rise to stardom – and he will grace the Premier League next term – you will be rather disturbed. No wonder English football is in such a terrible state when with all of Chelsea’s dosh they allow such a talent to slip through the radar. I know that his family uprooted and left for Derby when he was only two, but I expect his parents were Chelsea supporters and would love their son to have become a Chelsea star. Chelsea’s loss is Derby County’s gain at a time when Chelsea is sadly lacking in this department. Born in Surrey, Hughes moved to Derby at the age of two. Hughes was first educated at St Peter’s Junior school and then Repton School for secondary school in Derbyshire and played for the school football team, scoring the first goal in a 3–1 defeat to Brentwood in the Rensburg Sheppards ISFA Final. He then went on to play for local side Mickleover Jubilee, before he later signed for Derby County as a first year scholar in the summer of 2011. Hughes made his debut for the club’s reserve team as a 70th minute substitute in a 6–1 Central League win over Walsall and made two additional appearances in the Central League Cup. It was his “outstanding” performance in a 1–0 win over Port Vale reserves in the competition which bought him to Clough’s attention for possible inclusion in the Rams first team squad against Peterborough United four days later. Hughes made his full debut for Derby as a 90th-minute substitute for Jamie Ward. Despite entering the game late with the scores level, there was still time for Hughes first team debut to end in defeat as a 94th-minute goal saw Peterborough win 3–2. In February 2012, when he reportedly attracted attention from Manchester City and Manchester United due to his potential to be a world class player. After Paul Green rejected a contract offer, Clough promoted Hughes to the first team squad for the penultimate game of the 2011–12- season at Portsmouth as his replacement.

Hughes started the game on the substitute’s bench and came on at the 68th minute, replacing Theo Robinson in a 2–1 win. Hughes started his first game for the first team in the final game of the season, a 1–1 draw against Peterborough United. The performance of Hughes in the match earned praise from Rams manager Nigel Clough. At Derby’s awards night, Hughes won the Scholar of the Year Award. After impressing in pre-season, Nigel Clough said that Hughes could be in line for a place in the starting line-up in the first game of the season against Scunthorpe United in the League Cup. Clough was particularly impressed with his substitute appearance against Colchester United saying, “When he came off the bench at Colchester, he was very good indeed. I thought he was the star of the subs. He looked comfortable. I don’t think he gave the ball away and he made our equalizer. We are very pleased with him.” Hughes scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win against Watford on 1 September 2012. Hughes signed a new contract in October 2012, committing his future at the club until summer 2015. Hughes scored his second goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat at Millwall on 10 November, scoring an equalizing goal from 20 yards. In November 2012, Hughes was linked with moves to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. Nigel Clough denied the rumours, however he said the interest in the player was inevitable and said many scouts have been at Derby matches to watch Hughes. Spanish giants FC Barcelona were also reported to have had an interest in Hughes, after scouts from the Catalan club “compiled a detailed dossier” on Hughes when he appeared for England U17 in the Algarve Tournament in February 2012. Hughes was named the Football League Young Player of the Month for November 2012, after a series of impressive performances. On the eve of the 2013 January transfer window, it was reported in the Derby Telegraph that Hughes was being closely observed by 10 Premier League clubs with Fulham’s manager Martin Jol saying of Hughes, “Believe me, there are probably 10 clubs in the Premier League having a look at him. He is one of these wonderful talents, so he is always on lists. If you have a good scouting system, he will always be on the list but we will see.”

In February 2013, during a 0–0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hughes picked up a groin injury and was replaced after 63 minutes. As a result of this injury Hughes ended his ever present run of Derby first team appearances after 35 games and ended a run of 37 consecutive appearances. With twelve games remaining in the season and with Derby unlikely to fight for a play-off place and with Hughes being ruled out for the first two games in March; Clough said he considered resting Hughes for the rest of season to reduce stress on his body. In April 2013, Hughes signed a one year extension to his contract after his 18th birthday, extending his stay until June 2016. Hughes returned to first team action before schedule on 20 April as an 85th minute substitute in Derby’s 3–1 against Peterborough United. At the end of the season, Hughes won the Sammy Crooks Young Player of the Year award. Ahead of the 2013–14-season, Hughes was expected to compete with Craig Bryson, Paul Coutts and Jeff Hendrick, with then manager Nigel Clough stating that rotation could be utilized. Hughes scored his first goal of the season on 27 August in a 5–0 win against League One side Brentford in the League Cup. He scored his first league goal of the season in a 3–1 defeat at home to Reading on 21 September. This was Hughes’ last goal under Nigel Clough, who was sacked a week later following a 1–0 defeat at the hands of rivals Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands derby. Clough was replaced by former England manager Steve McClaren, and Hughes scored in his first game in charge of Derby; a 3–1 win against Leeds United. On 17 January 2012, Hughes was called up to the England U17 for the first time for the Algarve Tournament in February 2012 he was joined by his teammate Mason Bennett. Hughes appeared in all 3 games, as England won the 3 game tournament with 7 points. Hughes scored a goal in the 2–2 draw against Netherlands U17 on 4 February 2012. Hughes was also called up the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship elite round in March 2012, however England failed to qualify for the main tournament, finishing 3rd in their group on 4 points, with their exit confirmed in a 4–0 loss to Spain U17.

In August 2012, Hughes was named as standby for the England U19 squad for a friendly against Germany U19 in September. On 19th November 2013, Hughes scored his first goal for England U21 against San Marino U21. In November 2012, Hughes made his first appearance for the England U21 squad in a friendly against Northern Ireland U21 on 13 November. Hughes came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Josh McEachran, becoming the second youngest player to get capped for the U21s, only beaten by Theo Walcott. Derby youth academy director Darren Wassall praised Hughes after his call-up to the England U21 side, saying “It’s a great achievement to get in at 17 and we are all delighted for him. To make that rise into the Under-21s so soon is fantastic for him and everyone at the club.”Hughes called the experience “surreal”. Important – Style of play Hughes has been described as a “flair player” who uses through balls and mazy runs to create space for teammates and beat opposition defences in attacking positions. An example of Hughes’s use of these techniques was the role he played in the opening goal scored by Conor Sammon in Derby’s 3–1 win against Leeds United, where he set up Sammon with a perfectly weighted disguised threaded pass which Sammon profited from. He also helps Derby out with defensive duties, such as when he cleared a Leeds shot off the goal line in the same match. Hughes said in a December 2012 interview for the BBC, that he bases his play on Barcelona and Spanish international central midfielders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Hughes states his strengths are his passing and technical ability and targeted improvements in pace and physical strength. When we are asked about the lack of talent coming through the ranks, this goes to show that the problem we have is that the scouting systems at all clubs are simply not good enough, For instance, Arsene Wenger brings in these French, Spanish and all other outsiders whilst ignoring the likes of Hughes and that is our problem. At all my old clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal and Stoke City the young talent has dried up, but it is not that they are not being born it is that the clubs are ignorant to the fact that they must scour the area to find them, but I suppose it’s easier to spend money on overseas inferior youngsters, and I can say that because Hughes will prove me right with the guidance of McLaren who I think will get past QPR and Harry Redknapp and parade Hughes on the big stage next season. PS: I was asked the other day how Chelsea came across me and my answer was simple, “My father walked me through the gates of Stamford Bridge and handed me to hem on a plate otherwise I would have gone, like so many others, on to become a painter and decorator like him”. The gist of this particular story is that what you have just read is the whole problem of why England are now second rate citizens in World football. Did I say second?