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Your support makes all the difference.Michael Hughes has been drafted into the Northern Ireland squad for the European Championship qualifiers against Armenia and Greece, even though he has not played a club match this season.
The midfielder, who is without a club but has been training with Portsmouth, offered his services to the Northern Ireland manager, Sammy McIlroy, after Norwich's Phil Mulryne withdrew with a hip injury.
"Michael rang me up and offered his services. He has been training hard," McIlroy said. "I was impressed with his attitude and told him to come along. After all he is a quality player."
Hughes has been caught in a contract row between Wimbledon and Birmingham City. A hearing in April will determine whether he is due compensation for loss of earnings. His last competitive game was for Northern Ireland in a draw against Ukraine in October.
McIlroy knows Hughes lacks match-fitness, but said: "It will be a bit of a bonus to have him on the bench, knowing I can throw him on if need be late in the game."
"I'm delighted to be joining up with the boys," Hughes said. "I love playing for Northern Ireland and wouldn't miss any games unless there was something wrong with me. My fitness is OK. Obviously it is not perfect but if needed I'll be ready.
"My circumstances have been difficult and I have to say the Football Association has not helped me at all, but you either curl up in a ball and cry your eyes out or get on with it. I've done the latter."
* Zico, the Japan coach, is set to field the Portsmouth goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi in the international friendly against Uruguay on Friday. The 27-year-old has not played for the First Division leaders for more than a year.
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