He played more than 50 games during the 1985–86 season as Bury struggled to a 20th-place finish in the division. In spite of the team's poor league position, Hughes was selected for the Northern Ireland squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He played 32 league matches the following season before a serious shoulder injury curtailed his campaign.
During the 1985–86 season, he participated in more than 50 games as Bury ranked 20th in their division. Despite poor team performance, Hughes was chosen for the Northern Ireland squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The following year, he played 32 league matches before a significant shoulder injury ended his campaign.