Chris Hughton is a kind, generous, warm and thoroughly decent man, but it did not prevent him turning into a fine footballer and it is not stopping him becoming the most under-rated manager in the country.

You will not see Hughton’s name linked with Premier League jobs. He was ignored by Sunderland when they replaced Sam Allardyce, shunned by Crystal Palace when they sacked Alan Pardew and does not appear to be on Swansea’s shortlist. He should not be overlooked in the future.

Hughton’s success at Brighton and Hove Albion can no longer be ignored. Last season, he came close to earning automatic promotion from the Championship, before an agonising defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off semi-final.

Few expected him to get so close again, especially in a division where Brighton are handicapped by the lack parachute payments, that enable others to operate with larger squads, filled with players boasting top flight experience.

Brighton continue to exceed expectations and, after the Boxing Day fixtures, moved above Newcastle United – the club that sacked Hughton as manager when they were 12th in the Premier League – to go top of the table.