Former Newcastle defender believes the criticism of Hearts manager Ian Cathro is unwarranted
Cathro left his job as Newcastle's Assistant Manager to take over Hearts and Hughes who now plays under him believes he has had a rough deal
Former Newcastle United defender Aaron Hughes has launched a staunch defence of Hearts manager, Ian Cathro.
Cathro left his job as Assistant Manager at Newcastle to take the top job at Hearts in December 2016.
However, the 30-year-old has struggled at Tynecastle, winning just six of his first 26 games in charge, as the Jambos finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
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Hearts missed out on European football despite looking on course to qualify when Cathro succeeded Robbie Neilson as manager.
As a result, Cathro has come in for a lot of criticism, but Hughes, who was one of Cathro's first signings and will remain as a player at the Edinburgh club next season, believes the criticism has been unwarranted.
"He is a very good manager and I'm not saying that because I play for Hearts," Hughes said.
"From my first meeting with him I really got a good feel from it, with the things he was saying, how he sees the team progressing, where he wants to take them, his ambition.
"He has great intensity in training and his attention to detail is very impressive. With the levels and standards that he wants from training, you can see why he has worked at the clubs he has worked.
Aaron Hughes of Heart of Midlothian (Image: 2017 Getty Images)
"He has worked at top level and he is trying to bring that in at Hearts as well. Results, unfortunately, haven't reflected that at times and it has been a bit frustrating.
"Also from the off there has been a lot of criticism without there being any reason behind it. He's been fighting that from the start. He's never shirked responsibility and at the same time it is up to the players too to do their job when they cross the white line."
Hughes has played under the likes of Sir Bobby Robson , Martin O'Neill, Roy Hodgson and Harry Redknapp, but he insists Cathro is one of the most impressive managers he has worked under.
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"I have really enjoyed working under him in the last six months," added Hughes.
"Signing another year tells you that I want to continue working under Ian. I'm very motivated by the things he wants to do.
"He is very confident in where we are going and what we are doing. That is the side that other people don't see because all you see is what reported and the nasty side, so to speak. It gets frustrating and annoying that they never seem to let things go.
"For some reason he is a target until he starts getting the results and that is where the responsibility falls on the players to take the good things we are doing in training out onto the pitch and show people what we are all about."
Sir Bobby Robson