Did Souness Make A Mistake Letting Hughes Go?

Last updated : 14 December 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

He lines up against his old club on Saturday, and there must be mixed feelings.

After making 278 appearances for Newcastle, he joined Aston Villa in a £1m deal, then moved onto Fulham.

Graeme Souness's decision was said to be another disastrous pieces of transfer business from Newcastle's then manager, who brought the likes of Amdy Faye, Jean Alain Boumsong and Celestine Babayaro to the club.

Had Souness kept Hughes, there's a fair chance he would still be at St James's Park today.

Hughes was contacted by his agent, who told him he had been given permission to speak to Villa and end a nine-year association with United.

Hughes said at the time: "As I was aware the club had said I wasn't for sale. Then all of a sudden I got a phone call from my agent to say they'd been approached and this time I could go as the fee was being agreed.

"At the end of the day the club's basically saying `you can go - you're not needed' and another club's desperate to have you.

"The choice was made for me as Newcastle were prepared to let me go, and another club was desperate to have me."

Personally I don't think we've seen him replaced.