AUSTRALIAN Ashes hopeful Phil Hughes has paid tribute to the help Worcestershire gave him to get his international career back on track.

The left-hander furthered his selection claims for Wednesday’s opening Test against England at Trent Bridge with a better-than-a-run-a-ball 86 at New Road on Thursday and he has since revealed he was happy to be back on his old stomping ground.

After making a flying start to his Test career, the wheels came off for Hughes with a perceived poor technique leading to his axe from the Baggy Green side. However, a run-laden sting as Worcestershire’s overseas signing last year forced Hughes back into the picture and he is now a serious candidate to make the starting XI for this week’s Ashes pipe-opener.

Hughes said: “I’ve absolutely loved being back at Worcester. I’ve been able to catch up with all the New Road guys and had dinner with them.

“I also caught up with Steve Rhodes, as well. They are a club that really looked after me last year when things were a bit down for me personally.

“They really boosted me and made me feel welcome in this part of the world, so it’s been great to be back and catch up with some mates.”

On his prospects of being selected for Trent Bridge, Hughes added: “We’ll have to wait and see what the selectors think and what they go with. I knew before the warm-up game with Somerset that my form wasn’t great.

“We all know we have to get runs, so it’s about challenging each other and about performance. It’s been nice to get some runs behind me and now we’ll have to wait for the team to be announced.”