Chris Hughton inspired Newcastle United’s previous promotion to the Premier League before Rafa Benitez’s men’s success last year.
Hughton knows the St James’ Park surroundings well, having been a coach and caretaker manager on Tyneside before becoming their permanent manager and inspiring their promotion back to the Premier League in 2010 after their relegation the previous year.
He also recently came up against the Magpies when they travelled to face his Brighton team at the Amex Stadium. And after seeing his old team make a promising start, Hughton suggested that Benitez is the right man to re-establish the club at the highest level and he also praised the supporters.
“They deserve success and they are in safe hands under Rafa. United will be OK.”
As mentioned, the early signs certainly suggest that Newcastle have the quality to book themselves another year at the highest level.
The Magpies have won three of their opening seven games, and Hughton’s Brighton are the only team to inflict a defeat upon them from their last five games.
And with four very winnable games coming up in their next four, it would hardly be a surprise if they go into the next international break in an even better position.
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