BBC SPORT | Football | Worthington Cup | Hughes puts in vintage display

Brad Friedel may have been given the nod as man of the match but it was Hughes who, more than anyone, epitomised the spirit that earned Blackburn the Worthington Cup.

And Hughes picked up yet another cup winner's medal to add to an extensive collection.

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness admitted that had he not been shorn of five players through injury and suspension, Hughes would not have started.

Souness, in the end, pulled off something of a psychological masterstroke as he threw Hughes in where Hughes had previously refused to throw himself.

Since becoming manager of Wales almost two years ago, Hughes has steadfastly refused to pick himself, resisting the temptation to pull on the red shirt for one last hurrah at his country's impressive new home.

It is typical of Hughes to swallow any desire he may have to tick off a personal milestone by putting his team's prospects first.

Souness rightly suspected, though, that Hughes would secretly relish the chance to parade on the Millennium Stadium's green, green grass of home, and it was a gamble that paid handsome dividends.

Man-of-the-match Brad Friedel celebrates Blackburn's win
Man-of-the-match Friedel is another 30-something
His performance was a masterclass of priceless understatement.

From the moment he left his calling card on Darren Anderton in his own inimitable fashion, Hughes turned in a typically abrasive performance.

He supplied underdogs Blackburn with something that Spurs didn't have. An enforcer in midfield who could put his foot in and make life uncomfortable for Spurs' playmakers.

Possibly out of deference to a senior statesman, referee Graham Poll kept his cards in his pocket as Hughes clattered into Anderton three times.

As Souness said: "I don't think there's anyone who plays against him who can put their hand on their heart and say they enjoyed it."

Disheartening sight

But it would be unfair to think that Hughes' role was merely as a destroyer.

Years of playing up front, leading the line as one of the best hold-up players in the game, have given Hughes an excellent touch.

That combined with his cool head in the hurly-burly of battle meant he rarely wasted a ball.

Hughes' legs were never going to allow him to gallop forward to get on the end of things. He was just needed to glue things together in the middle of the park for Rovers.

The question hanging over him was how long his 38-year-old legs would last, but he was still going strong enough to mug Anderton of the ball 10 minutes from time.

Hughes admitted: "I was worried about my fitness because I haven't played a great deal of football.

"But I think it went OK. When you get to my age, you have to surround yourself with younger players to do your running for you.

"It's special to win a cup final in Cardiff, I love this place. I have won a number of finals but this is special, and I hope to have more great moments in this place with the Welsh team."

Perhaps he was guilty of a bit of adrenaline-fuelled exaggeration when he said: "The way I feel, at the moment, I could play for another five years."

But you would not bet against it.