Hughton was given a name check by Alan Pardew when he was named as the LMA manager of the year in London earlier this month.
Chris Hughton: “It was a lovely thing for him to do.
“I did appreciate it and he deserved that award for the job he has done there.
"Alan is someone I have known for a while and I always knew he was a good manager.
“It was nice to get that recognition because it is in front of the other managers throughout the Football League.
"So for him to say that, I really appreciated it.
“All of my memories of Newcastle are very fond ones although I have always been honest enough when people talk to me about it to point out that I was part of the coaching staff that got the club relegated.
“Luckily I left with a good record and what I felt was nothing to really prove.
"But what really pleased me was doing it for the people up there, who live and breathe their football.
“Wherever I am in the world, I still get Newcastle fans coming up to me and thanking me for the promotion season which is so nice.
“It is an incredible support and a really, really lovely part of the world. I would love to see them go from strength-to-strength.”