Hughton need not have worried.
His side ended up hammering Sunderland 5-1 at St James’ Park in 2010, but Newcastle have only won a single derby in the Premier League since then.
In fact, Sunderland have triumphed in six of the last seven meetings in the top flight.
Former Black Cats manager Gus Poyet oversaw half of those victories, having swiftly realised that the fixture was “much bigger” than many outsiders thought.
“After family, the club is the most important thing to the people of Sunderland,” he said.
“It’s so intense that the result of the club can change the mood of the city so imagine the result of the derby? You can feel it.
“They told me on the first day. ‘Please stay up, but you must beat Newcastle’. I still don’t know if it was more important to stay up or to beat Newcastle.”
Sunderland, like Newcastle before them, eventually slipped through the relegation trapdoor in 2017, and spent eight years outside the top flight.
So a division separated these rivals when they last met in the FA Cup third round nearly two years ago.
And the contrast was stark.
The combined cost of Sunderland‘s starting line-up that day was a mere fraction of the £40m Newcastle had spent on Joelinton.
Alex Pritchard, who joined on a free transfer, was the most experienced individual in the hosts’ starting line-up by a considerable distance. At just 30 years of age.
“I don’t think the fans really believed, deep down, that we were going to win that game,” the former midfielder said. “But now it’s different.”
In so many ways.
Dan Ballard and Trai Hume are likely to be the only survivors from that 3-0 defeat in Sunday’s XI following the inspired arrivals of, among others, Granit Xhaka, Enzo le Fee, Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele, Noah Sadiki and Omar Alderete.
Sunderland also have a different manager, of course, in Regis le Bris.
Not only has the Frenchman led Sunderland to promotion – his fearless side have gone toe-to-toe with some the best teams in the top flight.
In fact, Manchester City are the only team in the current top six to have defeated Sunderland this season, while Le Bris’ side are also unbeaten on home soil.
Such an impressive start to the campaign means Sunderland go into Sunday’s game a point clear of Newcastle in the table.
So it is all set up to be a gripping afternoon when these rivals renew hostilities at the Stadium of Light.
“Come Sunday, the world will know the North East is back on the map with top games again,” Taylor added.
