A CLICHE it may well be, but it is also fact to report that Scunthorpe United need fighters in their battle to drag themselves out of the Championship relegation zone.

Following the acquisition of Andy Hughes, the Iron may just have stolen a march on their rivals.

Fresh from a whirlwind arrival at Glanford Park, which produced a man-of-the-match performance in the goalless draw with Burnley little more than 24 hours after he signed for the club, the 33-year-old former Reading and Leeds United stalwart faced the media yesterday with an air of authority.

If players are supposed to be carrying weight on their shoulders because of United's lowly league position, Hughes clearly isn't one of them.

Comfortable in defence and midfield and an experienced competitor at this level, he has been a welcome arrival for Iron manager and former Notts County team-mate Ian Baraclough.

Yet speak to Hughes at length and you'll learn that it is the 33-year-old's spirit that has the potential to be one of the biggest weapons in the Iron's survival armoury.

He may not have meant it to, but 11 short words in an interview ahead of tomorrow's bottom-of-the-table showdown with Preston North End sum up exactly what he brings to the table.

Not since February 2008 have United propped up any division.

Asked how important it was that that didn't happen tomorrow, on the back of the Lilywhites' visit to Glanford Park, the Mancunian's response was serious and short.

"I don't think about losing so I won't answer your question."

It is that winning mentality which Baraclough and the player himself hope can manifest itself among the rest of the dressing room.

Promoted with County, Reading and Leeds, the former Oldham youngster admits he is more used to fighting for honours as opposed to survival.

And but for the prize on offer, Hughes says they are very similar situations.

"Coming to Scunthorpe is a different challenge for me, but it's a challenge I'm excited about," he told the Telegraph.

"It only carries the same amount of pressure as being at the top – you have to win every game. I look forward to that.

"If it had have put me off, fighting relegation, I wouldn't be here.

"I'm not the sort of player that shirks challenges, hence the reason I was the first player to sign for Leeds the day they were given minus 15 points.

"I joined them when they were bottom of League One and left them second in the Championship.

"I'm not afraid of a challenge. Players that go along in their career happy to just play at clubs who finish in mid-table need to take a look at themselves in my eyes."

To read Hughes' thoughts on the spirit at Glanford Park and the importance of tomorrow's match, see a four-page preview in Friday's Scunthorpe Telegraph.