There is a time to move and a time to stay put and Stephen Hughes is attracted to the latter option at the moment.

With January just around the corner a number of players will be turning their minds to their next move. Not for Stephen Hughes though as he has intention of leaving Motherwell at the moment despite speculation linking him with a return to England. Hughes contract ends at the end of the season and Derby and Nottingham Forest have both noted that fact. However, the former Leicester player is keen to stay focused on his football in Scotland for now and may agree to stay at Fir Park when he does look to his future. He said: "I'm enjoying my football here, I enjoyed it very much last season. I will probably speak to the manager in the next couple of weeks but, first and foremost, I want to concentrate on winning games and the contract situation will take care of itself. I have got to the end of the season, so there is plenty of time. I think we'll wait to the end of the season. I'm not looking to do anything. First and foremost, I'm just looking to get back to winning ways with Motherwell. That's the only thing that's on my mind."

Manager Mark McGhee dangled the carrot of impressing big teams in England by playing well in his hometown team when he persuaded Hughes to sign last summer. Things back home appear to suit Hughes for now and extending his stay at Fir Park looks like a real option. He added: "I'm a Motherwell boy, I grew up here and my son and wife are settled here as well. I'll just play to the end of the season and we'll see what happens."

While Hughes is focused on helping Motherwell end a five-game run without a win against third-placed Hearts on Saturday, he also retains international aspirations. Hughes received a late summons to join the Scotland squad for the friendly against Northern Ireland in August but had to decline due to injury. That was his first call-up since the early days of Berti Vogts' reign, and Hughes thinks he can finally win his first cap under George Burley. Hughes said: "I had a wee hamstring tear when I got called into the squad. That's the only thing I've missed this season really and it was unfortunate it was the time I got called into the Scotland squad. These things happen so I just need to keep playing a bit better and if the team starts winning again, then we will see what comes from that. David Clarkson has done really well and has stayed in the squad. It shows you that players at the so-called smaller clubs will get in the squad if they are doing well. He (Burley) is always looking at other players, so it does give us hope."

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