HARRY Lewis says he will always be grateful for Mark Hughes for launching his football career.

Lewis was an ever-present under the former City boss – and admits his recent exit hit him hard.

The keeper feels the decision to change manager was “probably right” but remains in debt to the Welshman.

Lewis said: “I played every minute of every game for him and you feel responsible.

“A very, very good man lost his job. I owe him everything I have in a football sense.

“I messaged him when he left and said, ‘you gave me this opportunity.’

“I wouldn’t be here and have a career in football if he hadn’t picked me up. I made sure that I said thank you.”

City head into Saturday’s big home clash with Wrexham - where a crowd of over 21,000 is expected - having won all three games since Hughes was sacked and replaced by Kevin McDonald in temporary charge.

Lewis can understand why the change at the top was made but praised the manager who gave him his first break in the English game when he signed him from Southampton.

“I owe him a lot personally and he always carried himself with such dignity. He commanded respect from people,” he added.

“Whether you agreed with his playing style or whatever, he had a fantastic playing and management career.

“I’ve got all the time in the world for him.

“Football moves quickly and life in football moves on. I think the decision that was made was quite possibly the right one.

“The decision of a successor is a very big and difficult one. That’s for other people to decide, I’m just trying to keep the ball out net.

“But I’m very grateful for everything Mark Hughes has done for me.”

Lewis blundered with the opening goal in Hughes’ final game in charge at Tranmere but recovered to save a second-half penalty.

“If that’s a striker and he misses a sitter but then scores later on. You’re talking about the goal.

“If it’s a goalkeeper, all we talk about is the mistake. I know my role and the position and that happens.

“Obviously you save a penalty and half-expect to get out of there with a point. We end up losing the game and I think things came to a natural conclusion.

“You’re going to make mistakes as a goalkeeper. You learn from it.

“I’m not a kid anymore, I’m 25. I’d like to think I’ve got another 10 years of being a number one minimum.

"Joe Bloggs from Saltaire"

“It’s not the last mistake I’m going to make. There are goalkeepers playing in World Cup and Champions’ League finals who have made much bigger mistakes than anything I’ve done yet.

“That’s part of goalkeeping. But where I’m really happy is that I can put it to the back of my mind a lot better now.”

Lewis has never been on Twitter and recently took down his Instagram account to reduce the outside noise.

“I’m not on social media anymore because I found that side of things makes it harder to forget.

“You don’t need to tell me it was a bad goal at Tranmere. You know when you should have done better.

“I don’t need Joe Bloggs from Saltaire saying, ‘Is there any chance of him keeping the ball out the net?’

“I try my best every single day. I try to represent this football club as best I can but every now and then a goal’s going to go in.”