Big games keep coming as Hughes eyes World Cup

First came Australia's A-League grand final, then the AFC Women's Champions League semi-final and now two key Women's World Cup qualifiers with Wales.

For Laura Hughes, the one-time Australia international who has pledged her allegiance to Wales, the big games keep coming.

The midfielder came on as a second-half substitute as Melbourne City beat Wellington Phoenix a little over a fortnight ago to secure Australia's domestic double.

Four days later she was in the starting side as City's fine season ended with defeat to Japanese side Tokyo Verdy Beleza in South Korea in the last four of Asia's Champions League.

With all eyes now on Wales' fixtures in Montenegro on Friday and against the Czech Republic in Cardiff next Tuesday, Hughes says she is primed for action.

"I think especially with the [Melbourne City] games being high-pressure knockout games, it's prepared me really well for what's coming with Wales," Hughes said.

"To play at a World Cup, I've dreamed about since I was a kid so it would be really cool."

A tournament place is still some way off, of course, with Wales hoping to do enough in their next two fixtures to finish first in Group B1. That would mean a more favourable path in the play-offs later this year.

As it stands, they trail the Czechs – who host Albania on Friday – on goal difference.

Whatever happens, the group winners will be decided in Cardiff, but Wales' aim for Montenegro will be a comprehensive win, given that goal difference may be a factor in deciding who comes out on top.

"I think the game against Montenegro will be challenging and will set us up really well for the next game," Hughes said.

"We've obviously been preparing for Montenegro in training and different meetings. We're looking at a really tough, aggressive side that we don't know what, sometimes, they're going to throw at us, so we've got to be prepared for everything.

"We're just chasing the results and hopefully they come."

Hughes is with the Wales squad for only the second time having opted to represent the land of her mother last year.

The 24-year-old, who was capped by Australia in a friendly in 2024, made her one Wales appearance to date in December's triumph over Switzerland.

She missed the first two camps of this qualifying campaign because of a knee injury but is now eyeing a competitive bow for Wales.

Hughes has prepared for the trip to Podgorica with a stint in Porthcawl, where her grandfather, aunt and two cousins live.

"I played my last game of the season with Melbourne City in South Korea and so I thought instead of going all the way back, I'd just come straight here," she explained.

"As soon as I came there was a heatwave, so I think I brought it with me.

"I was just hanging out with my family down Coney Beach. It was nice."

Born and raised in Canberra, Hughes says in her Australian accent that it was a "no-brainer" to commit to Wales having been given the chance by head coach Rhian Wilkinson.

"I think my mum shed a tear when I made my debut," she added.

"I spent a lot of summers here growing up. My family would come over and then my Welsh family would visit us in Australia.

"I feel very connected to Porthcawl and Wales. I feel very Welsh."