Michael HUGHES insists he is not the answer to Northern Ireland's goalscoring problems as he prepares to face Turkey in Saturday's Euro 2000 qualifier at Windsor Park.

Manager Lawrie McMenemy has deployed Hughes behind frontman Iain Dowie (34) in an attempt to pep up their flagging attack.

But while the Wimbledon winger enjoys this free role, he claims he will always be a goal maker rather than a goal taker.

He said: "I'm not an out-and-out goalscorer and I never have been. I don't see myself as a natural goalscorer and my record shows that.

"I do enjoy playing up and around the penalty box and if a chance comes my way I'm confident I can put it away."

Dowie has all but hung up his boots with QPR and has managed only one international goal in nearly two and a half years. However, McMenemy believes he has no alternative to the pair.

He could have turned to under-21 prospects Adrian Coote, Paul McVeigh or the exciting Manchester United player David Healy. But he has decided to stick with the old guard for the matches against Turkey and then Germany in Dortmund next Wednesday.

Hughes is not helped by the fact that he is still building up his fitness following his double hernia operation at the end of last season.

He said: "It's getting there. It's not the way I want it to be and I've still a bit of a long haul and I need to get a bit of strength back."

Northern Ireland are playing for little else than pride in their three remaining Group Three qualifying games because they trail joint leaders Germany and Turkey by six points.

McMenemy reported no injury worries and claims Peter Kennedy, who has a slight hip problem, and Stephen Robinson, who has a shoulder complaint, will be available for Saturday.

Northern Ireland will wear black armbands and there will be a minute's silence before Saturday's game in memory of the victims of the Turkish earthquake.