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NORTHERN IRELAND v WALES - HUGHES HAS POINT TO PROVE
Aaron Hughes returns to action for the first time in four matches when he captains Northern Ireland against Wales in Tuesday's friendly at Windsor Park.
While he is seen as one of the province's key players, it is a different story on the domestic front, where the defender has found himself on the fringes for Aston Villa since the arrival of Martin O'Neill as manager.
But he is determined to turn things around, having initially played in 12 of his club's opening 14 matches this season.
Hughes said: "Being left out of the side is something that happens in football.
"Things are going okay in a sense. The only downside is I am not playing. I am training well, and my confidence is still fine.
"It is just a matter of trying to work my way back in. I have just got to do enough in training and in any games I do play.
"Then maybe I will get a run in the side again. That's my aim."
Northern Ireland are up to 47th in the FIFA world rankings, after defeating Latvia last time out in October in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
However, they are still smarting from Wales taking four points off them in the recent World Cup qualifiers.
Northern Ireland had to settle for a draw in Cardiff and were then beaten in Belfast thanks to an inspirational display by Ryan Giggs.
Manager Lawrie Sanchez said: "When I took over three years ago, Wales and the Republic of Ireland were in the ascendancy.
"We and Scotland were having a bit of a rough time
"That has switched round a little bit - we and Scotland are obviously doing quite well.
"Wales and the Republic on the other hand haven't quite recovered to where they were.
"But Wales have got good players - just look at the quality of someone like like Ryan Giggs.
"He was the difference in Belfast between the two sides. His wing play and his free-kick ultimately undid us.
"This is a good match for Wales because they play the Republic in the next qualifier - so they get a British-style game."
Sanchez's squad has been reduced to 16 players after the withdrawal of Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson because of a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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