Derby County midfielder Will Hughes spoke to England fans via Twitter @FA

England v Sweden
An Under-21 International
Banks’s Stadium, Walsall FC
7.30pm, Tuesday 5 February 2013
Buy Tickets Online or call 01922 651416
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England Under-21s midfielder Will Hughes says Three Lions skipper Steven Gerrard is his football idol.

The Derby County youngster spent an hour answering fans' questions at St. George's Park in an exclusive Twitter chat via @FA, while the Liverpool captain, who picked up the England Player of the Year award on Sunday night, was also in residence at the national football centre.  

Hughes is part of the Young Lions squad readying themselves for their Euro 2013 warm-up match against Sweden in Walsall on Tuesday night.

And he told the fans posing questions via the social networking site that Gerrard, along with Spanish star Andres Iniesta, are two players he looks up to.

The 17-year-old, who has become a regular in the Derby first team this season, also says that the Rams' victory over rivals Nottingham Forest was his best moment of the season so far.

And of course, there was the inevitable 'Messi or Ronaldo' question. But who did Hughes choose?

Watch the video of Will's Twitter session in the FATV player, or read some of his answers below.




Twitter Q&A

@OleOleUnited #AskWill Pasta or Pizza?
An easy one to start with, has to be pasta.

@JoshRowley_ What player is looking good and has a lot of potential from the youth team? #DCFC #AskWill
There are plenty of young lads at Derby who have a bright future and they are at the right club to fulfil their potential.

@1DAssemble125 What is going through your head while standing in the tunnel every match? #askwill
Nothing in particular but just trying to get my head in the zone for the game and blank everything else out.

@Maddogdamo If you did not play football, what other sport would you like to be a pro' at?
Tennis for me, I like individual sports and I used to play it a lot when I was younger.

@ConorFlanagan96 Best player currently playing in the Premier League? #AskWill
On current form I would go with either Suarez or Van Persie.

@TomPainting #AskWill Who do you think's got the best chance of winning Champions League this year?
I think Madrid and Barca will be up there with the best chance but Dortmund have surprised a few and I think they have a shout.

@WilliamAshby #AskWill What is your favourite position to play?
Behind the striker is my preferred position but I'll play where I am told to be honest.

@TheRealMrChippy One former England player that you wish could be in the present squad?
I wouldn't have seen many play but would go with Fowler, scored for fun.

@riddley82 If you could have been involved in any game from the last twenty years which?
Liverpool v Milan in 2005 best game in history for me, to come back how they did against a team who had the players they did.

@GrantConway89 Xavi or Iniesta?
I'd go with Iniesta because he's consistently class each game and probably doesn't get the acclaim because of Messi.

@EdDickinsonPFC If a bear and a shark had a fight, who would win?
That's a close one, in a neutral environment I'd go for a bear because it can walk and it has hands haha.

‏@BHBetts Who is your dream central midfield partner from the present and the past? #AskWill
Zidane from the past definitely. From the present there are a few contenders including Gerrard, Alonso and Xavi.

‏@DanielAbiona Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi? #AskWill
Has to be Messi, it's not only how many goals he scores but how influential he is.

‏@HamzeAli98 Who's the best player you've played against?#AskWill
From the top of my head maybe Rochina from Blackburn but also a lad called Sergi Samper from Spain U17s.

‏@DcFcForever95 What's it like only being 17 and playing full time football?
Can't put it into words, it's what I've wanted to do since I was young but I haven't made it yet.

‏@mdola13 Who is your footballing hero and who would you like to resemble?
Would have to be Gerrard and in terms of who I'd like to resemble it would be Iniesta.

@JRepo_13 Who do you play as on FIFA?
Quite a few different teams actually but the main ones are either Juventus or Bayern Munich.

@Joshlar_ What's been your best moment in a Derby shirt?
Beating Forest away has to be the most memorable, unbeaten in the last four against them as well

‏@ElliotNewman2 Barca or Madrid? #AskWill
Barca all day long, they play football the right way and get rewarded for it.

Thanks for all the questions, looking forward to the game tomorrow. You can follow me on this account @willhughes44

TICKET DETAILS
Fans can get tickets to watch England’s young stars against Sweden for the terrific price of just £10 for adults, £5 for children and a family ticket (two adults and two children) is only £20.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 01922 651416, buy online from Walsall FC or email tickets@walsallfc.co.uk