MARK Hughes (pictured) is set to continue playing next season - according to Wales legend Dean Saunders.

Wales' part-time chief Hughes, who arrived at Blackburn Rovers in October 2000 on a free transfer from Everton, will hold talks with Ewood Park boss Graeme Souness in the summer after his18-month contract expires.

"Mark is as slim now as he's ever been," said former Wales international ace Saunders. And Saunders should know, having watched Hughes in training this season on a daily basis after taking up a coaching role at Ewood.

"Mark played in the Worthington Cup final against Spurs and I think he showed he is one of our better players. He's certainly a big game player," added Saunders.

With the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign kicking off in September, FAW chiefs are eager for Hughes to take on the Wales manager's role full time although that would mean taking a huge pay cut.

The 38-year-old veteran could expect to earn £10,000-£12,000 a week playing in the Premiership, with his current FAW contract netting him around a £70,000 annual salary. Hughes has always maintained he will make a decision on his future in the summer, with the Argus revealing in February a club doctor has advised him to quit playing.

Meanwhile, Saunders,who won the first of his 73 caps way back in 1986 while at Brighton, "I enjoyed my time with Wales, I had a good innings. "But I could see players like Craig Bellamy coming through and I didn't want to put Mark Hughes in a position where he'd bomb me out!"