Career
Foreign the American soccer player, see Jeff Hughes (soccer). He has also played internationally for Northern Ireland, making his debut during their summer tour of the United States of America. Hughes currently plays for Tranmere Rovers on loan from Cambridge United.
Hughes played for the Ballymena United academy, before transferring to the academy at hometown club Larne.
He went on to make his Irish League debut for The Harbour Rats, before moving to The Football League in England to join Lincoln City in League Two. He was originally deployed in the left-back position for Larne, however under John Schofield at Lincoln, he has proven that he is equally adept at playing a more attacking role as a wing-back and a winger on the left side.
Despite Hughes" three goals over two legs against Bristol Rovers, Lincoln experienced their fourth-successive play-off defeat in 2007, and Hughes moved to Crystal Palace of The Championship, reaching his highest level yet. However he struggled at Selhurst Park.
He went on a two-month loan to Peterborough United in November 2007, scoring once against Bradford City.
In the January transfer window Posh tried to agree terms with Hughes to sign him, but failed to do so, and thus he returned to Palace. At the end of March, Bristol Rovers signed Hughes on a loan deal until the end of the season, but unfortunately for all parties he was injured on his reserve team debut, after giving The Pirates the lead. He returned to Palace for treatment, before signing permanently for Rovers in the summer.
On 30 April 2010 he was called to the Northern Ireland B national football team for a friendly against Scotland B national football team on 6 May 2010.
He was one of seventeen players released by the team in May 2011. On 28 June 2011, Hughes signed for League One side N ottinghamshire County on a two-year deal.
He scored on his league debut against Carlisle United on 6 August 2011. On 22 May 2013, Hughes signed for Fleetwood Town.
On 14 July 2015, Hughes signed a two-year contract with Cambridge United.
