Warnock keen for Hughes to stay

Blackburn defender Stephen Warnock is hopeful Mark Hughes remains at the club after his manager was given permission to speak to Manchester City.

The former Liverpool full-back recently signed a new deal to keep him at Ewood Park for the next four years.

Such has been his good progress that the 26-year-old was handed his England debut on Sunday in the defeat of Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly.

“I signed a new contract under the impression that Mark’s going to be our manager,” Warnock told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy the club itself but he was the reason I came. I wanted to play for him. I respected him as a player and I respect what he’s doing as a manager.

“Fingers crossed he’ll stay but obviously if he’s given permission to speak to another club then you just never know what can happen.”