Garry Birtles says Lewis Grabban faces an uphill battle to get back in the Nottingham Forest team.
Speaking on this week's Garibaldi Red podcast, the Forest legend said Lyle Taylor's four goals this season should make him Hughton's first choice.
"I think Taylor has to the number one striker now from what he's shown. When you're scoring goals you can't wait to get back out on the pitch," he said.
"He'll be flying in training. You have to go with what's in front of you and he's in form. He's the best striker at the moment.
"Taylor is a different kind of player to Grabban because of the work he puts in.
"People say because Lewis gets so many goals you can forget about work rate but I think that can haunt you a bit when you aren't scoring goals.
"If you aren't scoring goals that's the main part of your game gone so you have to turn to other things.
"Taylor's game suits Forest at the moment. I think his work rubs off on players around him.
"He'll close players down, gets a block in and that can spark something. He's going to be difficult to dislodge."
Grabban is currently out with a hip injury with his condition set to be assessed over the international break.
The 32-year-old scored 20 goals last season and 17 in 2018/19 but he is yet to score in eight games this season having missed good chances against QPR and Cardiff City, plus an open goal against Rotherham.
Former Reds boss Sabri Lamouchi was keen to be reunited with the striker at Qatari side Al Duhail, but Grabban decided to stay in Nottingham.
You can listen to the full podcast here, or watch it on YouTube.
