ENGLAND football hero Steven Gerrard is being lined up to unveil Barrowâs Emlyn Hughes statue.
Emlynâs widow, Barbara, is working with council chiefs to arrange the ceremony.
The Barrow-born, former Liverpool and England captain, died in November 2004 after battling a brain tumour.
The ÂŁ50,000 bronze statue will stand outside the ÂŁ3m Emlyn Hughes House, on Abbey Road, Barrow.
Steve Warbrick, Barrow Borough Council's regeneration director and a schoolfriend of Emlyn, said: âWe hope to get Steven Gerrard to unveil the statue.
âNothing is confirmed yet. We donât know when it might be as it would depend on his availability.
âI think Steven Gerrard is the modern day Emlyn Hughes. Heâs the captain of Liverpool as Emlyn was and he has captained England as Emlyn did, and heâs a whole hearted footballer as Emlyn was.
âIt would be great for Barrow to have such a famous and well loved player here.â
The ceremony is likely to be in July when Gerrard is most likely to be available.
He is busy in June as he is marrying his fiancee Alex Curran.
Next week the Liverpool captain could follow in the great Barrovianâs footsteps once again and lift the European Cup for a second time.
The 26-year-old Kop favourite has said Emyln is a hero and an inspiration for him.
The Hughes family say it would be a great tribute for Steven Gerrard to be there.
Emlynâs mum, Anne, and other members of the family say they see Emlyn's steely determination in Gerrard.
Mrs Hughes said: "I'd be delighted if Steven Gerrard unveiled the statue. He reminds me of Emlyn, he's absolutely 100 per cent involved and never stops running. It's that never say die attitude, and he's a leader the same as Emlyn was."
Emlyn's brother David Hughes, said: "It would be great if they do get Steven Gerrard. I spoke to Steven about six months ago at Anfield and he said he modelled himself on Emlyn and Emlyn is his hero."
The statue is having the finishing touches made to it at artist Chris Kelly's studios in Merseyside.
Barbara Hughes has been working with the artist to make sure it captures the character of her late husband. She and Mr Warbrick have recently visited the studios.
Mr Warbrick, said: âItâs fantastic, itâs a big dynamic statue. You can see every muscle in the legs and the shorts are turned up like Emlyn used to have them.
âThere were just some minor adjustments that needed to be made.â
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=4996652 legends together , how good is it that stevie willl
take time out to pay respect to a true great,
