Under-21s Player of 2014 contender: Will Hughes

Tuesday 09 Dec 2014
Hughes scored England's crucial winning goal in the Euro play-off in Croatia
Will Hughes scored what was arguably England Under-21s' most important goal of the year to seal their spot in the 2015 Euro Finals in Czech Republic.

With the second leg tightly poised at 1-1 in Vinkovci, and England holding a narrow 3-2 aggregate lead, the next goal was always going to be a crucial one in a tie which had been edged by Gareth Southgate's side.

Will Hughes

Club: Derby County
DOB: 17/04/95 
Caps in 2014: 6
Goals in 2014: 1
Total caps: 12
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And it was most fitting that, as the stand-out player on the night, Hughes was the man who broke forward from midfield to fashion an extra yard in the box and strike home the winning goal.

The Derby County man had performed admirably over both legs, despite taking a physical battering by Croatia in the first leg at Molineux, with his movement and passing helping the Three Lions to dominate possession and deservedly go through.

Hughes' displays in that play-off may have caught their opponents by surprise, but for fans of Derby it's become a regular occurrence with the 19-year-old already approaching 100 appearances for the Rams and in his fourth season with the Championship side's first team.

To vote for Will as your Vauxhall England Under-21s Player of the Year, sign up for FREE to become a member of the England Supporters Club and make your choice here...

[Voting Closes at midnight on New Year's Eve]

By FA Staff