Rafa Benitez is back in the dug out having watched from home as his side beat Swansea 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium last weekend while Hughes saw his side grab a point at home to Manchester United.
And for Mark Hughes , who was once linked to the United job back in 2008, he’s well aware of the effect a couple of wins can have on the mood around a club.
“They had a couple of results and performances which they were probably disappointed with,” he added.
“But wins change everybody’s view and perception of how well you’re doing. They have had two good results, one on the road, so that’s always encouraging for them. They’re looking for three wins on the bounce so that is what they’ll use for motivation - so we have to be ready for that.”
Hughes confirmed that Geoff Cameron would miss Saturday’s game while captain Ryan Shawcross will need a late fitness test to determine whether he will be able to play.