Best has not scored a league goal since November, and his miss against Coventry on Wednesday night defied belief.
Hughton has confirmed that Ranger will return to the reserve side in the coming weeks, despite making a positive impact in his four starts and 19 substitute appearances this season.
Like Lomanu Lua Lua back in Sir Bobby Robson's time, and Temuri Ketsbia before him, Ranger adds a new dimension to the side when introduced as substitute.
A spark, a dash of pace, and that superb enthusiasm.
Chris Hughton: “It’s the same for everybody.
“Nile’s got to train hard, play well in the reserves if he gets a game for them, and continually try and push.
“Nile’s still developing as a young player. It’s about what he does in the week, how he trains in the week and the competition he has in the forward areas.
“At the start of the season, if we had said how many minutes he was going to have on the football pitch for us so far this season, I don’t think he would have believed it.
“So far, he’s played a big part for such a young man, and he’s just got to continue to do the same.
“He’s got to be part of that strike force and learn as much as he can, and take the opportunities he gets.
“Nile’s got to train hard, play well in the reserves if he gets a game for them, and continually try and push.
“Nile’s still developing as a young player. It’s about what he does in the week, how he trains in the week and the competition he has in the forward areas.
“At the start of the season, if we had said how many minutes he was going to have on the football pitch for us so far this season, I don’t think he would have believed it.
“So far, he’s played a big part for such a young man, and he’s just got to continue to do the same.
“Nile’s developing, and, of course, what we also have are Andy Carroll – who’s also a young lad – and Shola, Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best, all different types of strikers.
“He’s got to be part of that strike force and learn as much as he can, and take the opportunities he gets.”