Keane quit as Sunderland manager on Thursday.
“Roy is a young man and still has a great future in the game,” said Hughes. “Maybe he just needs that breathing space to refresh himself, take a step back and learn from the experience.
“It is always sad when a Premier League manager or any manager loses his job.
“He will have had his reasons for leaving Sunderland. He is a very forthright and straight guy.
“Once he makes a decision he sticks to his guns. That seems to be what has happened here.
“You just sensed he was going to consider his future and possibly walk away and that is what has happened.”
