EX-SAINT Mark Dennis believes a fully-fit David Hughes could walk straight back into Premiership football from the Dr Martens Eastern Division.

In fact Dennis - a Saints Academy coach - has been so impressed with what he's seen of the 30-year-old midfielder with Eastleigh this season that he rates him higher than anyone Saints have currently got in midfield!

And that includes Anders Svensson, who played for Sweden in the last World Cup and is expected to be in their squad for next summer's Euro 2004 tournament.

Tragically, a catalogue of injuries forced Hughes out of the professional game at the tender age of 27 after nearly a decade with Saints.

The luckless former Weymouth midfielder endured two broken legs, fractured ribs and major back surgery before calling it a day at The Dell after a fifth operation on a troublesome knee.

These days it's a struggle for Hughes to play two games a week and it takes the former Welsh under-21 international hours of hard work and dedication to get his aching body into gear.

But it's no coincidence that Eastleigh's best performances have come with Hughes in the side and Dennis reckons it's a crying shame that injury has robbed Saints of such an exciting talent.

After watching Hughes score twice against Bashley on Wednesday, the charismatic former Dell defender, right, said: "The way Hughsy's playing at the moment, he's better than anything we've got in the Saints midfield - and I mean that seriously.

"He's absolute quality. He's got my vote as player-of-the-year already and we've not even hit Christmas yet!

"Our defender Rob Marshall played for Watford in the old first division and also played for Kettering and he told me that playing with Hughsy's the greatest experience he's ever had.

"When Dave smashed in our third goal against Bashley the other night, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

"Watching him out there gives me more of a buzz than when I was playing myself."

Not only does Hughes retain the touch and technique of a professional, but he shows a passion and desire which Dennis believes would make him an instant winner in the Premiership.

He said: "For me, Saints' problem area is in midfield and I believe a fit David Hughes would walk into their side. He's got more quality than Marsden, Oakley and Svensson.

"The lad's got such a love and passion for the game. It's a crime that injury cut his professional career short but, like they say, they only take the good young."