The Burnley midfielder knows the Seagulls’ manager and his assistant Coin Calderwood from their time at Newcastle.
The former Manchester and QPR man said of Hughton: “When I was at Newcastle he was caretaker manager.
“Colin Calderwood was there in the interim period in the year we got promoted back to the Premier League from the Championship.
“You know what kind of principles he instills in his team. You know what he expects from his players on a daily basis and the standard of training.
"A lot of people would have been surprised by Brighton this season, how well organised they are and how quickly they recover to shape and so on, but I’m not because I know the qualities he brings as a coach and as a manager.”