WHAT Mark Hughes does next at Fulham will decide whether he will manage the likes of Manchester United or Chelsea one day – according to Glenn Hoddle.

The former England boss made Sparky one of his last player signings when Hod was in charge at Stamford Bridge, and has monitored his progress ever since.

Hughes insisted he was happy at Craven Cottage this week, but a man who knows him is only too aware Fulham’s boss is ambitious.

Hoddle said: "Assuming Mark wants it in the first place – to attain the next step with somebody like Manchester United or Chelsea depends on the next step he takes at Fulham.

"Do the club stick or twist and go for something more ambitious, especially when you see how much clubs like Man City or Tottenham spent just to try and get fourth place?

"Or does Mark need to look at the way Fulham play? Does he go even more adventurous perhaps? And does he buys one or two more players?"

Hughes was courted twice by Fulham last summer as successor to Roy Hodgson.

At first, the former Manchester City boss rejected the approach. But when Martin Jol stuck with Ajax, Fulham finally persuaded Sparky their ambitions matched his.

But Hoddle is sure clubs like Aston Villa are monitoring Hughes’s progress with the Whites.

He said: "There’s no doubt in my mind, people are looking at him to see whether he can take Fulham higher. But to achieve this he needs a better and stronger squad and no key players out for a period of time – like Bobby Zamora this season.

"In my book, Mark certainly has the capabilities to manage at the top."

Hoddle is due to manage a team in Football 40 – a legends tournament at Craven Cottage on Sunday week, May 29th, kick-off 3pm involving sides from Chelsea, Fulham, Arsenal and Spurs.

More than 70 top players including Pat Nevin, Kerry Dixon, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tor Andre Flo, Franco Zola, Geoff Horsfield, Andy Melville, Chris Coleman – and Roy Hodgson in a managerial capacity are set to appear.

Go to www.football40.com for further information.