JOHN Hartson believes he is repaying Wales manager Mark Hughes for helping to rescue his career.
Hughes backed Hartson through the bad times and saw the benefits when his striker grabbed a fine winner in Cardiff on Saturday to lift the mounting pressure on the boss with a 1-0 win over Belarus in the final match in Wales' unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite two collapsed transfers and ongoing injury trouble, Hughes never lost faith in the 26-year-old.
None of that was lost on Hartson, who said: "He has shown faith and belief in me and I'm grateful for that and have repaid him with goals."
Hartson's second-half header clinched Wales a deserved first win in their group. Hughes described Hartson's towering performance as "immense" - and Wales' new footballer of the year was only too pleased to thank his boss.
"Goals are what I'm there to get, but if it has helped take pressure off Mark then I'm delighted," he said.
"Honestly, I didn't really think he was under - or should have been under - any real pressure. I feel it would be a massive backward step if there were any changes. I know the rest of the lads feel exactly the same way."
Hartson credits Hughes with making him feel at home in the national squad. "It's only in these last games with Wales that I have really felt part of things," he said. "That's down to Mark because he has kept faith with me and kept playing me. I'm grateful for that because he was doing all that for me while other things were not going well, like the transfers that collapsed."
Hartson, who finished top scorer for Wales in Group Five with four goals, added: "I've felt a major part in things this time, while in the past that hasn't been the case.
"There have been Second Division players ahead of me and getting in the team while I was scoring goals in Europe for Arsenal.
"Other managers have had their views. But since Mark has been in charge he has shown faith in my ability."
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