For the first time, Charlie Hughes has discussed declining the opportunity to leave Wigan Athletic during the summer.
After being consistently underpaid during the previous ownership, the young center-back was able to turn in their notice along with the rest of his teammates.
Will Keane, Jack Whatmough, Jamie McGrath, and Hughes all decided to move on, but Hughes remained loyal to Wigan by signing a contract extension.
And he’s made even more progress this season, leading the team multiple times and making his debut for the England Under-20 squad.
Hughes didn’t really consider the possibility of leaving Latics.
“The club was going through a tough time,” he remarked. “You realise that you’ve been at the club for a long time, that you went through the academy, and that they took care of me because of the respect the staff and club had for the players.”
“I thought it was obvious to stay and develop both as a player and a person here.
We resemble a family more than we do teammates. We’re developing as a team, and some of the players have the potential to truly elevate this group.
“This team has a bright future.”
Hughes acknowledges that he is enjoying the responsibility of being included in the ‘Leadership Group’ by manager Shaun Maloney from last summer in an interview with the ‘i’ during the EFL’s Youth Development Week.
“I used to talk to a lot of the older guys, and I’ve always taken their advice because I grew up around them,” he remarked.
“I’ve always made an effort to keep going by doing more, so I did that when it occurred. In the event of a setback, I try to push myself more on the pitch or in the gym.
It’s in my nature to pull the coach and ask him questions because I want to try to get better.
“Every day I strive to get better, to play and train well, and to be the best version of myself. All I want is for my football to speak for itself.”
The 20-year-old has undoubtedly overcome his teenage disappointment at being let out of the Liverpool Academy.
After attending the Manchester City Academy for a while, Hughes moved to Liverpool and stated, “At that stage, it was about playing with a smile on my face.” “When you’re young, you just kind of accept those setbacks.”
Additionally, he shouldn’t be tempted to believe any of the hype that has been written about him because it is known that a number of Premier League and Championship clubs are keeping an eye on him.
“I don’t really read anything about my future on social media and I just see it as noise,” Hughes continued. Hughes made his league debut on Boxing Day of the previous season, losing 4-1 at Middlesbrough. “I don’t let myself become conceited by paying attention to that stuff. Football is such a volatile sport where things can shift drastically in an instant.”
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