The Telegraph Point 21-year-old is currently on a gap year after completing the second year of a four-year football scholarship over in the United States.

It all started from a simple training session with Football Mid North Coast where female players were scouted and played small-sided games.

Hughes admitted it sounded like "a cool thing to try out for" so she gave it a go and the rest has become history.

She still has ambitions of playing for the Newcastle Jets, but only if the opportunity was to arise when she came home at the completion of her scholarship.

But if the central midfielder makes an impression while she's overseas, she could play a similar level of football over there such is her enjoyment levels in her new surrounds.

"The schools (you can play for) over there are at a similar level to playing for the Jets here," Hughes said.

"If you're already playing at a high level, it's easy to get picked up by a state team."

Hughes doesn't have any expectations on what will happen at the completion of the four-year scholarship and was more than happy to keep her options open.

"I go to a junior college and you can transfer to what they call division one schools which have the most money," she said.

"If you transfer to a D1 school they can broadcast your games on television so you get seen really easily by professional teams.

"Playing for D1 schools is pretty much like playing in the W-League here so if you can get recruited then you're playing at a pretty high level."

She had the added responsibility of being the captain of her team - something that had never happened in her time on the Mid North Coast.

"I never really was a leader when I played here, but I've been thrown in the deep end and forced a bit but it's been really good," she said.

After living and breathing football for the last two years, Hughes was enjoying her time back at home - and social life.

"When I'm over there I'm so motivated to work hard, but when I come home I'm working, trying to save money and I have more of a social life," she said.

"When I'm over there I don't have outside factors because my life is soccer and school."

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