Record man Hughes sparks electrifying era as optimism runs high

Three mornings ago came a radio discussion on the circumstances in which Mark Hughes had obtained the sobriquet "Sparky". Several possibilities were tossed around, alluding to an apprentice career as an electrician, the energy he first showed as a Manchester United youngster, the fact that with a slight lisp he mispronounced "Marky". Someone even suggested that it was foisted on him in irony because he can come over a touch dour.

BBC Radio 5 Live ventured that if Hughes was listening on his way home after Wales' drawn game with Bosnia- Herzegovinahe might like to ring in. Fat chance. The Welsh manager might be many things but he is no media darling and courts publicity about as vigorously as Bobby Gould would shy away from a press conference.

In truth it is not a bad exchange for another label that can be pinned to Sparky, that of most successful manager in the 127-year history of Welsh football. Equalising goals from Robert Earnshaw and John Hartson enabled Hughes' team to post a ninth successive game without defeat, a sequence not achieved by any previous side, not even the legendary class of 1958 who battled through to the World Cup quarter-finals and in whose shadow every succeeding Welsh XI has existed.

It is a nice honour for Hughes and his men after a performance which fell short of their recent high standards and unstinting commitment. But you suspect it did not resonate so powerfully with the manager as the fact that Yugoslavia, now performing under the name of Serbia and Montenegro, had succumbed to two equalising goals in their Euro 2004 fixture with Azerbaijan. It left Wales with a four-point advantage over them in Group Nine, and a five-point lead over Italy.

The surprise outcome in Podgorica only strengthened belief that this time Wales can go all the way in a qualifying series. Yet for the first time in the section Hughes has to confront serious selection problems. Injuries to Mark Delaney and Danny Gabbidon seem certain to bring about two changes to the defence – breached just once in the three group games – for the home game with Azerbaijan on 29 March and the trip to Belgrade to face Serbia and Montenegro four days later.

Against Bosnia Hughes awarded a first starting appearance at right-back to Cardiff's Rhys Weston and the difficulties in making the huge step-up from Second Division football were immediately evident as Weston's missed tackle presented the visitors with an early advantage. Whereas Robert Page can comfortably take over from Gabbidon alongside Andrew Melville, the right-sided position will occupy much of Hughes' thinking between now and the end of next month. It may well be that he decides to deploy one of his young midfielders there.

For the final 30 minutes at the Millennium Stadium Matthew Jones of Leicester took over from Weston and did his cause no harm at all. He also brought a neat touch of symmetry to an historic occasion because his last appearance in a Welsh jersey was 16 months ago in the 1-0 victory over Belarus, the start of Wales' unprecedented run.

In between Jones has been recovering from a serious knee injury and, not surprisingly, declared himself thrilled to make his international return. "It was fantastic just to be out there sampling the atmosphere," he said. "To play for my country again is something I have wanted for a long time and there were many days when I thought it wouldn't happen."