The former Republic of Ireland and Tottenham defender, currently in his third spell in temporary charge on Tyneside, takes his team to Cardiff on Sunday sitting proudly at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table.

It is widely expected that he will do so having been named manager of the month for August, a creditable accolade for a man who has found himself thrust into the limelight once again with the soap opera club still in limbo off the field.

Hughton said: "Over a period of years, even though you might not be in the hot-seat, you have a lot of management issues, and the experiences I have had over a number of years have stood me in good stead for what I have experienced since pre-season.

"But the longer you are in it, you become more comfortable with things.

"It certainly doesn't make things any easier, but you learn to deal with things a bit more easily.

"Any potential accolades are always nice, but they always come very much below the main priorities, and the main priority is that you have a team which is prepared right and in a position to win football games.

"At this moment, the most important thing is going to Cardiff and getting a result."

Off the field, the Magpies' immediate future remains up in the air with owner Mike Ashley's efforts to sell the club still ongoing and showing few signs of being resolved any time soon.

It is understood Lancashire-based businessman Geoff Sheard, who is fronting a New York-based consortium's bid and another interested party remain in talks, but that neither - nor anyone else for that matter - has yet proved they have the funds to strike a deal.

The continuing uncertainty has meant Hughton is having to push a threadbare squad to the limits, but an excellent start to the campaign has served to raise spirits markedly.

Midfielder Kevin Nolan has certainly seen an improvement in the atmosphere around St James' Park since his arrival from Bolton in January.

He said: "When I first came to this club, I found it quite astonishing that lads weren't as close as they were at Bolton, where it was based on lads being there for each other every game.

"We have got that here now. We have plenty of discussion and it's all about sticking together and doing the right things.

"We are 110% behind each other."

That unity in the face of continuing adversity has already paid dividends with the Magpies having put together a run of five wins, four of them in the league, since their opening day draw at West Brom, a return which has left them two points clear at the top of the table.

However, that will not last if they do not maintain their standards in a tough game at Cardiff, who would leapfrog them with victory.

The Magpies head for south Wales with Hughton's options once again limited by injuries with striker Andy Carroll and Jonas Gutierrez still on the sidelines.

He will also be without leading scorer Shola Ameobi for several weeks after revealing the 27-year-old has undergone minor foot surgery.

Hughton said: "Shola has had a minor operation on his foot. We are still to determine what period of time that will keep him out, but it will be a matter of weeks.

"What happened was he had had stress on the bone and they felt they needed to do something to guarantee it ended up being no more than that."