The Magpies are currently at the top of the Championship following their home win over Leicester.
Hughton said: “What I did believe was that this group of lads could show a real desire to want to do well, and I never felt it would be through lack of effort or lack of conviction [if they did not].
“What we didn’t know was the division and what we would be up against on a game-by-game basis.
“I never felt they would show any less than they have shown; whether that would be enough to get us the amount of points we have got, I didn’t know.”
