July 17 2003

Nationwide Division One

Former Wimbledon midfielder MICHAEL HUGHES will weigh up offers from three London clubs before deciding whether to join Crystal Palace on a permanent basis.

The Northern Ireland international, 31, who has been out of the game for a year because of injury and a contract dispute between the Dons and Birmingham City, spent last week on trial at Palace’s New Beckenham training ground.

HUGHES told the Croydon Guardian: "I spent a week training with Palace so that they have a look at me and I could have a look at them. It went really well. It's a good club and I was impressed with what I saw."

HUGHES was offered the chance to join Palace on their pre-season tour of Spain. But both parties decided it would be best for him to stay in London and work on his fitness with Olympic athlete Daley Thomson, before returning to Palace next week.

HUGHES said: "I may well sit down with Palace in the next 10 to 12 days to sort something out, but I have got a couple of other options with two or three other London clubs, which I have to consider.

"I have four or five years left in the game and I want to achieve something in that time. So I want to go to a club that’s on the up and showing ambition to get into the Premiership."

HUGHES has already turned down two offers from clubs outside London, because he wants to stay near his Gatwick home, but one of the clubs pursuing his signature is former club Wimbledon.

HUGHES was being touted as a replacement for Leeds-bound Julian Gray. But with Gray's move still in the balance, HUGHES told the Guardian he sees himself as a central midfielder and not a wing back.

If Hayden Mullins' expected departure goes through, HUGHES could well play alongside Shaun Derry at the heart of Palace's midfield.