 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Hughes akatamba mitambo yakati wandei pamatanho akasiyana evechidiki eNorthern Ireland. Akadanwa kekutanga kuchikwata chevakuru cheNorth Ireland mukupera kwa1984 asi haana kutamba timu panguva iyoyo. Kutevera kuita kwake kweBury, maneja Billy Bingham akabatanidza Hughes mu22-man squad ye1986 FIFA World Cup muMexico. Zvisinei, akaganhurirwa kunzvimbo pabhenji sezvo Pat Jennings akachengetedza chinangwa mumutambo wose. Jennings akasiya basa mushure memakwikwi uye Hughes akava muchengeti wepagedhi wekutanga. Akaita mutambo wake wepasi rose musi wa15 Gumiguru 1986 mukurasikirwa ne0 3 kuEngland kuWembley. Mukuita, akava muchengeti weBury chete kuti akambokunda mapepa emarudzi ose achitamba kirabhu. Akachengeta clean sheet mumutambo wake wechipiri weNorthern Ireland sezvo divi rakachengetedza 00 kurova kure neTurkey mumutambo weEFAFA Euro 1988. Chitarisiko chake chekupedzisira chenyika yose chakauya musi wa18 Kukadzi 1987 apo timu yakadhirowa 11 neIsrael mumutambo wehushamwari. Kukuvara kwepafudzi kwaakawana achitamba kuWigan Athletic kwakamuita kuti asave muchikwata cheNorthern Ireland uye nzvimbo yake muchikwata yakatorwa naGeorge Dunlop. 