Fulham captain Aaron Hughes will use this week's spell with the Northern Ireland squad to relieve the pressures of a fierce relegation battle.The former Aston Villa defender is currently embroiled in a frantic bid to help the west London club, who are second from bottom in the Premier League, stave off the dreaded drop.

Defeat to Newcastle on Saturday - Kevin Keegan's first win in his second spell as Magpies boss - only added to Hughes' woe.

Threat of relegation will hang over his head when he leads out his country against eastern European minnows Georgia at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

But 28-year-old Hughes is determined to put any thoughts of club football to the back of his mind - even if it is for one night only.

"Coming back to Northern Ireland for this friendly helps to take my mind off our battle against relegation," admitted Hughes, who is the only Northern Ireland international in the current Fulham team with striker David Healy and full-back Chris Baird banished to the reserves under manager Roy Hodgson.

"Every game is important at the minute for us, and every time we go into training we are working on different things to try to improve our game so that we are ready for another scrap come match day.

"The fact I have been able to come away for a few days is a pleasant change and distraction. We'll get the game out of the way and then come Thursday we'll return to our clubs and concentrate on the weekend games.

"It's nice to be able to meet up with the lads and have something fresh in your mind to think about."

Hughes will captain Northern Ireland for the 28th time against Georgia but this evening will be an extra-special occasion for the Cookstown-born defender - it will be exactly 10 years since he made his international debut.

But he concedes the last three years - which have included victories over European giants England, Spain and Sweden - have been magical.

"We've made a steady rise up the rankings and that is so pleasing," says Hughes, who has two and half years left to run on his Fulham contract.

"It's been a great honour to captain the boys in those victories against such great teams and I hope our excellent form continues in the World Cup qualifiers."

While Northern Ireland have progressed dramatically in qualification matches, their record in friendlies, especially at Windsor Park, is atrocious.

The men in green have won only one game in 16 matches at the south Belfast venue.

Hughes is determined to improve that record against Georgia - but insists he would rather lose a friendly if it means positive results in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers which start on September 6 in Slovakia.

"I'm not overly concerned with the record. I would take six defeats in friendlies if it meant we would win six games in the World Cup qualifiers," admitted Hughes.

"These friendlies are all about preparation and working on things for the qualifiers. Those are the games that are important.

"Of course we want to win every game we play in but if these matches help Nigel (Worthington) try a few different things to help us win in the qualifiers then I'm all for it."

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