Nolan wants Championship title for Hughton

United are on course for an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation last summer, as they currently hold a nine-point lead over third-placed Nottingham Forest.

It did not look as if that would be possible when they were humbled 6-1 by Leyton Orient in a pre-season friendly, though, with Hughton then just a caretaker manager and not guaranteed a future at the club.

But after being given the manager's job on a permanent basis in October, Hughton has spearheaded a revival of the north-east club and Nolan, who was crowned as the Championship's top player at the Football League awards, believes any promotion will be just reward for Hughton's efforts.

The 27-year-old said: "People thought that we would do a Leeds and go down again, but we got together after the Leyton Orient game and that probably put us where we are now to be quite honest.

"That 6-1 thrashing has played a massive part in our season.

"We tried to play it down at the time, but we were all hurting. It actually made all the rubbish come to the top and it was a case of 'Are you in or are you out?'

"Everyone should appreciate what Chris has done for this club. Mike Ashley realises what he's done. In pre-season, he didn't have to go to Leyton Orient, he didn't have to endure that, but he did and we thank him for that and that's why we want to repay him and win the title for him."