Rafa Benitez deserves much of the credit for guiding once fractious Newcastle back to Premier League

Rafa Benitez has known much grander stages than the Championship but the Spaniard has probably not heard noise like that at St James’ Park after masterminding Newcastle United’s return to the Premier League. Few English grounds rock like Newcastle’s when things are going well and, for once, the fans had much to sing about. Benitez’s delight was clear as he strolled confidently to the middle of the pitch, applauding the supporters and punching the air after watching the 4-1 demolition of Preston North End. The cheers have not always rung out this season as Newcastle wobbled when in sight of the title but, despite two defeats and a draw in three games before Monday, belief was never allowed to ebb from the fans who know how to back their team. __________________________________ Read more ■ Team of the week: The combined FA Cup and Premier League XI ■ Liverpool: Lack of Plan B continues to present Klopp with problems ■ 'I'll be back': Injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic vows to return __________________________________ Given the turmoil of the past few years, when the supporters were often in open conflict with the club’s owner Mike Ashley and many of Benitez’s predecessors, the 57-year-old Spaniard deserves great credit for keeping everyone onside. Since finishing fifth in the Premier League in 2012 under Alan Pardew, a downwards spiral saw Newcastle twice narrowly avoid relegation before dropping into the second tier last season after bitter rivals Sunderland won at Everton. Matt Ritchie has been among the signings to have excelled this season. Stu Forster / Getty Images After flirting with relegation themselves for the past few years, Sunderland now look doomed to the drop along with second-bottom Middlesbrough, which would leave Newcastle as the north-east’s top team. “From the final day of last season, when we beat Tottenham 5-1, I wanted to show my loyalty and rebuild the team,” Benitez said. “I am really pleased for the team, the fans, for everyone.” Any doubts that the man who steered Liverpool to Uefa Champions League success in 2005 would cope with the rough and tumble of the Championship have been disproved this season. Ayoze Perez was on the scoresheet during Monday’s 4-1 win over Preston North End. Stu Forster / Getty Images Crucial to the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager’s success was convincing Ashley that what goes down seldom comes back up quickly. Norwich City and Aston Villa, who were also relegated, are eighth and 12th in the standings respectively. The need for new recruits was obvious and over the summer Benitez was handed £55 million (Dh258.6m) to spend on 12 new players, most of whom have proved shrewd signings. The attack has been spearheaded by Dwight Gayle, who has scored 22 goals but missed Monday’s game through injury. Rafa Benitez has been credited with getting the fans back on side. Lee Smith / Reuters Just behind him, Matt Ritchie knew exactly what was required having previously been promoted with Bournemouth, while Ciaran Clarke has shored up a perennially leaky defence. Benitez also scored wins off the pitch, mounting a charm offensive with the supporters and the local press, who had felt shut out by an increasingly inward-looking club frustrated by years of under-achievement. The result is now promotion, which was always the minimum return on Ashley’s investment. But there has sometimes been conflict and in January he refused Benitez’s request to re-sign England winger Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace. Immediately after Monday’s game, Benitez gave a broad hint that he will expect Ashley to strengthen a squad who currently look short of top-flight standard. “I think we have to analyse a lot of things and do what we need to be stronger,” he said, marking out a battle for another day as cheers echoed around him. For now, going up is enough. * Reuters Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport

Rafa Benitez deserves much of the credit for guiding once fractious Newcastle back to Premier League

Newcastle United sealed promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking and their manager deserves much of the credit.