Hughton had nothing to worry about.
His team ended up defeating Sunderland 5-1 at St James’ Park in 2010, but Newcastle have only won one Premier League derby since then.
In fact, Sunderland have triumphed in six of the last seven top-flight games.
Former Black Cats coach Gus Poyet oversaw half of those wins and quickly realized the matchup was “a lot bigger” than many outsiders realized.
“After family, the club is the most important thing for the people of Sunderland,” he said.
“It’s so intense that the club’s result can change the mood of the city, so can you imagine the result of the derby? You can feel it.
“They told me the first day: ‘Please stay awake, but has to beat Newcastle’. “I still don’t know if it was more important to stay at the top or beat Newcastle.”
Sunderland, like Newcastle before them, finally escaped the relegation trap in 2017 and spent eight years outside the top flight.
So a split separated these rivals the last time they met in the third round of the FA Cup almost two years ago.
And the contrast was stark.
The combined cost of Sunderland’s starting line-up that day was a mere fraction of the £40m Newcastle had spent on Joelinton.
Alex Pritchard, who arrived on a free transfer, was by far the most experienced player in the hosts’ starting XI. At only 30 years old.
“I don’t think the fans really believed, deep down, that we were going to win that game,” the former midfielder said. “But now it’s different.”
In many ways.
Dan Ballard and Trai Hume are likely to be the only survivors of that 3-0 defeat in Sunday’s XI following the inspired arrivals of, among others, Granit Xhaka, Enzo le Fee, Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete.
Sunderland also have another manager, of course, Regis le Bris.
Not only has the Frenchman led Sunderland to promotion, but his intrepid team has gone toe-to-toe with some of the top flight’s best sides.
In fact, Manchester City are the only team in the current top six to have beaten Sunderland this season, while Le Bris’ side are also unbeaten at home.
Such an impressive start to the campaign means Sunderland go into Sunday’s game one point clear of Newcastle in the table.
So everything is set to be an exciting afternoon when these rivals resume hostilities at the Stadium of Light.
“On Sunday, the world will know that the Northeast is back on the map with the best games,” Taylor added.
