Source: Team_Talk
New Hibs boss keen to keep star duo
Hughes was unveiled as Hibs' new manager on Wednesday after signing a three-year contract with his boyhood idols.
The 44-year-old vowed to bring the same brand of football to Easter Road that earned him so many plaudits during his six years at Falkirk.
But before he can implement his philosophy at his new club, he faces a fight to keep hold of his two best players.
Scotland striker Fletcher this week urged Celtic to resurrect their interest in him, while speculation is rife captain Jones is set to return to England.
But Hughes confidently declared: "I think Steven Fletcher will want to work with John Hughes. I might be wrong on that.
"But he's under contract so what he needs to do is come back here, knuckle down and go and enjoy himself and score goals."
He added: "I'll sit down with big Rob as well. I know he's possibly wanting to go back down south for family commitments.
"If that is the case, you have to respect that, but why can't John Hughes inspire him as well and get him to sign another year's contract?"
Hughes also insisted there was a future at the club for Moroccan pair Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun.
Zemmama was given permission to join UAE club Al-Shaab on a season-long loan in September after his pregnant wife was refused permission to enter the UK, while Benjelloun was farmed out to two Belgian clubs last season after falling out of favour with Mixu Paatelainen.
Hughes said of the pair: "When I heard the news that they could be coming back here, that brought a smile to my face.
"Because, when they're at it, they excite people, they excite me.
"If they're going to come back then they have to come back here with the right mindset, a strong mindset, and want to be here.
"If I can a bit of gold dust on them and sprinkle it and get them going and get the best out of them, they've certainly got a part to play at the club and that's something I hope can happen.
"But they have to want to come back here, first and foremost. And if that's the case then, trust me, I'll get best out of those two guys."
Since succeeding former Hibs team-mate Paatelainen, Hughes has been inundated with calls from agents eager to tout their players.
But it is the prospect of drafting members of Hibs' all-conquering Under-19 side into the first team that most excites Hughes, who had a reputation at Falkirk for giving youth a chance.
"My whole style is to produce and promote our own young players," he said.
"But, first and foremost, I want these young boys coming back first day of pre-season. They'll come back as boys, they'll be a bit intimidated by a new manager and going into that first-team environment.
"By the end of pre-season, I want them to be men. I don't want them to stand back on ceremony. I want them to knock other guys off their pedestals and go and take their positions.
"That's what they have to do if they want to go and play in the first team."
Hughes' record with young players was something that helped him clinch the Hibs job, according to chairman Rod Petrie.
"It was a very positive feature in terms of his experiences and what he'd done," Petrie said.
"He's seen our young team - treble-winning team - and is excited by what they can bring to the football club."
