MARK Hughes fears Tugay could suffer from 'burn out' during the closing months of the season after the veteran midfield maestro was sensationally called out of international retirement last night.

The 36-year-old schemer has been named in Turkey's squad for next week's match with Georgia - even though he officially announced his retirement from international football in November 2003!

The surprise call-up came as a shock to Hughes yesterday, and he's concerned the extra demands international football will inevitably place on Tugay could have a detrimental effect on his form for Blackburn as the club chases glory on three separate fronts.

The Rovers chief said: "It's a big ask for him because he's got a lot of games coming up and we've protected him somewhat.

"Three games in a week is a big ask for Tugay and the extra travelling won't help either.

"But I think they've had a change of manager and the new guy is quite adamant that he wants him to go."

With Steven Reid and Robbie Savage already ruled out for the remainder of the season with long-term injuries, Hughes already faced the prospect of wrapping Tugay up in cotton wool because he can ill afford to lose another central midfield player.

Tugay's call-up is therefore untimely to say the least because instead of taking the opportunity to rest next week, he must now make the gruelling 5,800-mile round trip to Georgia for the game at the Lokomotivi Stadium.

Earlier this season, Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele also received a similar call from France, even though he had announced his retirement from the international scene.

But Jose Mourinho's attempts to stop him from playing fell on deaf ears as FIFA insisted he had to play.

Hughes said of Tugay's situation: "He's very proud of his country, obviously, and he'll go and do his best.

"But our concern is he's got lots of games coming up and he will need protecting."

Tugay is one of the most capped players in Turkey's history, having represented his country 92 times.

He made his international debut in May 1990 in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Izmir, and he announced his retirement in November 2003 after Turkey's failure to make it to Euro 2004.

He won his last cap in the European Championship Qualifying Play-Off, 2nd leg when Turkey drew 2-2 with Latvia.

The Latvians had won the first leg 1-0 four days earlier, to win 3-2 on aggregate, and qualify for Euro 2004 in Portugal.