Agonising wait for Duff
Duff did not train at the squad's base at Malahide yesterday, with Hughton explaining:
"What we are looking for is an improvement from day-to-day and he has improved. He is quite bright in himself and optimistic. It is a situation we will monitor consistently."
Duff's availability is all-important to Ireland. He offered Brian Kerr's management team invaluable options as they reflect on Ireland's lucky win over Albania on Saturday and a disappointing performance.
Above all, his availability will dictate Ireland's tactical formation.
In this regard, Hughton said: "When you are evaluating every performance, then the result does come into it. On a few counts we realise we could have played better against Albania.
"But I look at the moment we scored and I have to think that if we were able to keep that lead for a longer period that would have enabled the team to grow in confidence and take it up from there.
"I think the fact that we conceded a goal so quickly after our own goal knocked us a little bit and it took us a while to recover.
"We know the performance could have been better, but it is only afterwards when you watch the game and you watch the game a couple of times, then you fully realise the effects."
Hughton is an astute coach who takes the process of analysis to its extreme. In this regard he, his manager Brian Kerr and the other coach, Noel O'Reilly, have a lot in common.
"There are two sides to take into consideration. One is the effect that we had on the game and the other, the effect that they had on the game.
"There are some statistics that tell us that we didn't do as badly as perhaps we thought we did immediately after the game.
"Those statistics show the impact they had on the game and if I look at that one on its own, then Shay Given was brought into action once in the first half when Tare had their first shot.
"Then they got their first corner after 76 minutes and that's the other side of the game."
Hughton argued the Irish tactics had negatived Albania perfectly, even if they did not spark the fluent performance that everyone was hoping for.
He said he believed tomorrow's opponents would offer Ireland an even more vigorous examination, even though Ireland beat them 2-1 in Tbilisi in Kerr's first competitive match.
Four days after that win, Ireland drew 0-0 with Albania in Tirana.
He said: "My perception was that Georgia were the better of the two teams. But because of the schedule and on the performances away from home the more difficult game for us was in Albania.
"But still looking at tapes of Georgia's previous games and their game against us it is clear they have a lot of quality in the side.
"You look at the number of players they have playing worldwide and they are probably playing at a higher level than many of the Albania players, which is testament to the quality of their side."
He reviewed the list of Georgia players and issued this warning:
"On any given day if we fail to do our job right they would quickly gain in confidence and they can be a very efficient outfit."
Hughton paid tribute to the work of Ireland's full-backs against Albania John O'Shea and Stephen Carr.
"In any system a lot is asked of every individual and the way the Albanians play there is a lot of space is in the wide areas.
"In the second half when Stephen Carr had a lot of space in front of him, I thought he used that space very well."
Hughton is in the unusual position of being club coach to Carr and also to Gary Doherty, who is used by Spurs more often as a defender.
The future for Doherty at club level is all about developing as a centre-back.
But Hughton smilingly conceded Ireland's needs were different
"Gary is more value to us as a centre-forward. Looking at the squad and the amount of cover we have in the various positions it is clear we are very, very well covered at centre-back with Richard Dunne one of those players who are chomping at the bit to get a game.
"With Clinton Morrison pulling out of the squad so early I would say there is more need of Gary at centre-forward and that his value to us just now is up front."
Hughton said the week's preparation the team had immediately after the end of the club season had been invaluable and he expected to see the benefits when they play their second game in four days at Lansdowne Road.
He reviewed the five performances under the new management team and said:
"The best teams, say Man Utd, which play five games in a row would find that they don't always play as well as they would like, but they get results and that's the same with us
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