Preston left-back Andrew Hughes on giving his 'goal' to Brad Potts and getting pins and needles against Middlesbrough

The left-back hasn’t found the net since February 2019 when PNE won 3-1 at Millwall – a run of 43 games for him.

It was Hughes’ shot which took a touch off Brad Potts to beat Boro keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

Most watchers thought it was Hughes’ goal until the replays showed Potts had got a decisive touch.

Hughes said: “I’m happy for Brad to take it, I think the shot was going wide, so it was his goal.

“Mind you, had it hit one of their players and gone in I would have been running to the corner flag on my own to claim it!

“I was just pleased to play my part, I’d been out for a while and we needed a victory.”

Hughes returned against Boro after five weeks out with a torn hamstring and got a ‘souvenir’ of his first game back – a stud mark on his ankle.

The Welshman said: “In the second half Sam Morsy studded me on a nerve in my ankle. My whole foot got pins and needle, I couldn’t feel it for a minute or two.

“It was really weird, I’ve never had that before but thankfully the feeling came back. I was putting my foot on the floor and couldn’t feel it properly.

“I’ve got a nice stud mark there for the record!”

Hughes played 74 minutes against Boro before being replaced by Josh Earl.

“To be honest, I didn’t have much left, I was flagging a bit,” said Hughes.

“When Josh came on I thought he was really solid, he did well.”

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