We spoke to Mark Hughes, after our 2-0 pre-season win over AFC Fylde.
Speaking to CUTV, Mark began with his general assessment of the match:
“It was good exercise. We don't really put value on wins and draws in pre-season because there's too many changes. Obviously, we did wholesale changes after 60 minutes, so it's always going to affect the rhythm and what we produce.
“But yeah, I was happy enough. More difficult for the lads that just had the 30 minutes. Lads that were on for 60 minutes had a better chance to get to grips with what we were talking about before the game.
“I thought we showed good signs, created a lot of chances in that first half-hour, so a score of two could have been more.”
It was great to see two forwards finding the back of the net, with Luke Armstrong and Regan Linney both getting a goal. Mark said:
“Yeah, they looked bright and lively.
“We've seen that in pre-season already. They don't give back fours a moment's rest, so that's going to be encouraging for us moving forward. It's always important that strikers get off the mark, even if it's just in pre-season.
“When you come to a new club as well, like Regan, that's important for him just to get off the mark. Pre-season friendly goals still count.”
Gabe Breeze made a couple of excellent saves, Mark was full of praise for the Cumbrian shot-stopper:
“Yeah, Gabe's had a good pre-season.
“A couple of outstanding saves, but we've come to expect that from Gabe.”
Georgie Kelly came on for the final thirty minutes, making his first appearance of pre-season.
“Yeah, we've just taken our time with Georgie.” Said Mark.
“He just had a little niggle, so we were probably over-cautious. He probably could have played more, but we have to ease him in. He missed the opening game, so it was important that we give him 30 minutes.
“Ideally, we'll get 60 into him on Tuesday, and then he'll be somewhere near.”
Mark then discussed the fitness of the players, with the starting group playing 60 minutes.
“Fitness-wise, I thought they looked okay. It's a little bit different when you play an actual competitive game, but the work that we've been doing ever since we've been here, we're training twice, 90 minutes every session, so the actual minutes on the pitch won't affect them.
“It's just that competitive edge that we have to add to our game.”
Mark touched on the impressive away following too:
“Oh yeah, we were surprised to see so many of them here.
“It was great to see them. This is just a little hop for them in comparison to some of the ones they might have to do, so we always appreciate it.”
Then, we moved on to discussing injuries, starting with Cedwyn Scott who was substituted late on:
“He's just got a gash on his ankle, so he's a little bit sore, but he'll be fine.”
On Morgan Feeney:
“Morgan is another one that we don't have to rush him. We can take our time with him.
He'll be back sooner rather than later. It's just one that he hasn't had before, so as a consequence, we're once again being a little bit over-cautious because we can, because it's pre-season, so when he's ready to be integrated, he will be.”
Next, Stephen Wearne:
“Yeah, Wearne is fine.
“He just got a bang initially and then he went over on his ankle while we were in Wales, so it's unfortunate you get these things when you start to up the pace in training games and training drills. Just unfortunately, he went over on his ankle, but it's not a significant injury. He's just a little bit sore and bruised at the moment.”
On Jordan Jones and Charlie Wyke:
“They're still doing their work and when they're ready to be available, they will.”
Jude Smith recently had surgery, and Mark gave us an update on that:
“It's a bit more different for Jude. It's going to be a long-term thing. Unfortunately, it wasn't an easy operation, so it's a shame for the boy, but it's going to be a little bit more time for him.”
Youngsters Sam Hetherington and Jake Allan were also absent, Mark explained:
“Well, Sam unfortunately got a nasty one, and he'll be seeing a specialist this week just to make sure that what we think it is, is actually what it is.
“Jake Allen has got a bang, but he should be back sooner rather than later.”
We asked Mark if any transfers were close. He responded:
“No, not really. Now we'll continue to take opportunities. If we get an opportunity to see people first-hand, I will always take that.
“We've done that to good effect already, so we'll continue to do it.”
Yesterday, United announced the signing of Ugandan international defender Bevis Mugabi, Mark discussed his qualities:
“Well, Bevis is a big, strong guy and he's got good experience at the international level playing for his country, Uganda.
“Obviously, he had a good career in Scotland as well, so he comes with a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge of the game. I expect him to have a good influence on the group.”
Next up, United travel to South Shields on Tuesday night, Mark gave us his early thoughts:
“It'll be a good game for us. All the games now, obviously, we try to factor in Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, because that's what we'll face. We've got an opportunity with a quick turnaround just to see how we cope with that.
“It'll be a good game, I'm sure.
“The plan is to flip the 60-30 around but it may be that some rock up a little bit sore and what have you, so we may have to change it, but the intention is to just flip it.”
