Hughes' great game begins

Azerbaijan v Wales (Baku 5.0): The opening of Wales' World Cup campaign could prove to be the most critical period of Mark Hughes' five years of international management.

With two years of his contract to run and Germany 2006 in his sights, Hughes can establish himself as a potential top future Premiership manager if he can guide Wales to a decent string of results in a group which next month pits them against England.

Hughes' standing is already good after he took Wales to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004 - and more success will add to his growing reputation.

Since he opened with a win over Belarus, Wales have won 11, drawn 13 and lost 12 matches under Hughes - and they are unbeaten in their last five.

Compared to much of the recent past, these are excellent figures, and Wales have had an impressive run of games since the heartbreak of losing to Russia in the play-offs last November.

Further success in Baku and on Wednesday at home to Northern Ireland will give Hughes just the boost he needs before embarking on the clash with England at Old Trafford on October 9th.

Few observers expect Hughes to be around as Wales chief after Germany 2006, he has never hidden the fact that he wants to be a club manager one day.

The end of the qualifiers - or the finals - would be a good time to bow out, with several obvious candidates to step in.

Current skipper Gary Speed is many of the FA of Wales council's choice, with current coaches Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki or even Ian Rush - cutting his managerial teeth at Chester - also potential candidates.

But that is some way off, for now all eyes are on Baku on the Caspian Sea for Hughes and Wales.

Hughes accepts that for many of his squad, this is their last crack at a major competition.

He said: "We are better now than in the last campaign, with more strength in depth. We have progressed and have to keep progressing to give Wales a better long-term future.

"And I accept that for many of my players this is their last campaign. It is why we must start well and give it our best shot.

"When you are young you think there will be other chances, but many great Wales players have retired and still not achieved what they wanted to.

"But now we have great experience in our squad, we went through the last campaign with plenty of highs and lows, and we are better and stronger for it."

He added: "We have gone five without defeat but this is now the real stuff and we must translate that into performances in a tournament that matters.

"We know what we are about, and England is still in the distance and and not a distraction for my players who are professional enough to put that on the backburner."

Wales won here two years ago at the beginning of their Euro 2004 qualifiers, but Hughes warns that Azerbaijan are a different proposition this time with a new manager in Brazilian legend Carlos Alberto.

He said: "They are on a good run and have started to score goals, which was a problem for them. They have a new manager as well and are confident."

Wales are without the suspended Ryan Giggs, while Ben Thatcher is ruled out with a hamstring injury and a throat infection.

Hughes said: "Ben was never going to be out here, we have kept him away from the squad because of fears of infection and he is still a little weak.

"He will join up with us on Sunday and hopefully he is ready to play (Northern) Ireland."

Hughes can use Cardiff's Danny Gabbidon, Tranmere's Gareth Roberts or skipper Gary Speed in the role.

He is likely to utilise Gabbidon there as long as West Ham's Andy Melville is considered fit to play in central defence after recovering from a hamstring problem which has kept him out since Wales' game in Latvia last month.