North Queensland Fury’s Hughes hoping gamble pays off

North Queensland Fury recruit Mark Hughes hopes his gamble to come to the A-League pays off.

The 23-year old defender joined the Fury from English club Walsall this season after beginning his career with Everton in 2005 so you could argue that perhaps he may be in a higher-quality environment than Australia’s domestic competition.

But Hughes said he would forever be kicking himself if he never took the plunge and tried something different.

"People say I've taken a bit of a gamble, and I just hope it pays off," Hughes told the Courier Mail.

"I was playing in England at a good standard, but then the opportunity to come over here came up, and if I didn't take it I would always have thought what would it have been like.

"It's a challenge for me and hopefully it'll be a good experience for me in life as well.

"I'm from Liverpool, which is quite mad because it's such a big city. It's a bit more chilled out in Townsville, a bit more relaxing, which is good because I can concentrate on my football."

Hughes will make his A-League debut tonight when the Fury take on Perth Glory at Nib Stadium.