INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE - KERALA BLASTERS ANNOUNCE AARON HUGHES AS MARQUEE PLAYER FOR ISL 2016

The former Newcastle United and Aston Villa center-back will don the yellow of Sachin Tendulkar's Kerala Blasters in the third edition of the competition..

Kerala Blasters have secured the services of Northern Ireland international defender, Aaron Hughes for the third season of the Indian Super League (ISL). The 36 year-old joins the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned franchise as a marquee.

Hughes, an English Premier League veteran has over 205 league appearances for Newcastle United and close to 200 appearances for London based former Premier Club Fulham. He has also been a key figure in the Northern Ireland national team set-up with over a hundred appearances.

The Cookstown-born six footer arrives a player who has a taste for the big occassions as the Blasters needed. He was part of the Fulham team that carved their way to UEFA Europa League final, in 2010, against Atletico Madrid - only to lose in extra-time.

Hughes also gained his 100th international cap for the Norn Iron at the recently concluded Euro 2016 tournament, held in France.

His last league stint came in Australia for Manchester City sister club Melbourne City FC. He made six appearances in the A-League. Hughes replaces Carlos Marchena, who was the 2015 marquee for ISL franchise, although he made just a solitary apperance for the Tuskers.

Earlier this month, the 2014 ISL runners-up signed Steve Coppell as their head coach for season three of the ISL, a widely experienced manager who has managed a couple of Premier League clubs himself.

Goal was abreast with developments between the two parties earlier this year. However, when contacted on the same, Blasters officials refused to comment