Notts County's Lee Hughes: I will be back when I'm ready

LEE Hughes today told the Post: “When I’m better I will be back playing for Notts.”

The 36-year-old striker also said he has been signed off on ‘medical grounds’ – but that was it, so it is still unclear what is wrong with him or how long he will be sidelined.

Magpies’ boss Keith Curle confirmed the Magpies have received a sick note from Hughes’ doctor.

But he says he has not seen it so does not know how long he will be out for, amid talk he will not be able to play until January.

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“I think the club has received a medical certificate, yes, but I’ve not seen it personally,” said Curle. “I don’t know what one looks like.

“I don’t need to see a medical certificate. If a player says he’s not well and unable to play that’s enough for me.”

When asked if Hughes will be looked at by the club doctor, Curle said: “I think he’s got his own independent doctor, I think that is where the medical note has come from, so no, that’s it.

“There’s no mystery, no drama. If somebody is ill, they are ill.”

Curle was hoping to finally speak to Hughes about it ahead of the Magpies’ FA Cup second round replay against Rotherham United at Meadow Lane tonight (7.45pm), after not managing to talk to him over the weekend.

“I tried getting hold of Lee on Sunday and left him a couple of messages, then I had a couple of missed calls from him,” he said.

“I tried speaking to him again yesterday and left a voicemail for him to ring me.

“Lee will get back to me so there will probably be more of an update this morning or after tonight’s game.”

It will be a blow to the Magpies, as they chase promotion in League One, if Hughes is out until the new year.

But Curle says he won’t know if he will be back before then until he speaks to him.

“I won’t know until I find out exactly how he is,” he said.

“Lee has been unavailable, but hopefully I will be able to find out when he will be available.”