Northampton central defender Mark Hughes has set his sights on a pre-season return to training following his recent sideline spell.Hughes was absent as the season drew to a close after a dead leg he picked up against Walsall developed into a blood clot.

The 21-year-old told the club's official website: "I am on the mend and I am sure I will be ready for the start of pre-season on June 30.

"It (the blood clot) was on my thigh and it could have been dangerous. The advice was for me to take my time, not rush back and make sure I was ready for pre-season."

The former Everton trainee also believes the team can build on their respectable finish of ninth this season.

He continued: "We are all really looking forward to next season and I think we are a club going forward. You always want to do better than the season before and we have set high standards for ourselves."

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