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Vastly experienced Northern Ireland international who arrived at the Ricoh Arena on a one-year deal after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of 2006/07.

The 36-year-old was a key player for Palace during four years at Selhurst Park and scored the winning penalty which helped the London club win promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs, under the guidance of ex-City manager Iain Dowie, against West Ham in 2004.

A combative midfielder with excellent skill and vision, Hughes came through the ranks at Manchester City before breaking into the first-team at Maine Road.

He signed for Strasbourg in 1992 and spent two seasons with the French side, before returning to the Premiership for two successive season-long loans with West Ham United.

In the summer of 2006, he signed for the Hammers permanently - becoming the first professional to move on a Bosman-free transfer in the process.

A year later, he joined Wimbledon for £1.6 million, where he made over 100 appearances before a short loan spell at Birmingham City, which turned into a permanent move.

However, an argument between Birmingham and Wimbledon over who held his registration dictated that Hughes was forced to miss the entire 2002/03 campaign, though the midfielder bounced back in style at Palace the following season, where he was eventually named skipper.

Hughes has won 71 caps and scored five goals for Northern Ireland.