RAFAEL BENITEZ has the backing of the players to take Newcastle United into a new Premier League era after being urged to stay at St James’ Park for the long-term.

Promotion was guaranteed on Monday when the Magpies comfortably defeated Preston North End, with Benitez celebrating on the pitch in front of supporters after achieving this season’s target with two matches spare.

But the satisfaction taken from the triumph was slightly tainted afterwards when the world-renowned Spaniard refused to confirm he will definitely be in charge come August by replying: “You never know, that is football.”

The uncertainty centres on assurances Benitez – linked with the West Ham job - will seek from Mike Ashley about the club’s transfer plans, having been left frustrated in January when he was unable to add to his squad.

The Newcastle boss wants to make sure his team is equipped to attack the Premier League, so will be looking for substantial investment in the playing staff from Ashley in a bid to avoid another season of struggle at the wrong end of the top-flight.

And goalkeeper Rob Elliot thinks it is essential Benitez is kept sweet in the hope the Champions League winning boss will stay on Tyneside and deliver a sustained period of success under his watch.

Elliot said: “He deserves every plaudit. It’s been tough for him. He’s come from Real Madrid to manage Newcastle in the Championship, expected to win the league, expected to go up without losing a game – and it doesn’t work like that. He’s been brilliant, he’s kept himself calm, he’s kept the players calm.

“Look at the amount of players we have used this year and the fact that every single one of them has helped, in any way, whether it is playing one game or every single game. Being around the place, there is a much more positive atmosphere.

“The biggest thing is the connection between the fans and the players and the manager, it is back again. And hopefully we can just continue that because when we are all together and the club is moving in the right direction, the whole city can be really special on nights like on Monday and hopefully there is more of them to come.”

When Benitez took over for the final 11 games of last season, morale and confidence among the players and fans was at a low. Since finishing with a six-match unbeaten run that year, he has galvanised everyone at St James’ – and Elliot thinks he was exactly what was required.

The Ireland keeper said: “Everyone was as surprised as we were when he came in. But he has brought passion to the club and pride back. And the commitment he showed to stay, that is the biggest thing. The fact he stayed just shows not only the type of person he is but the type of club we are.

“That Tottenham game (5-1 win on final day last season), that for me was the start of the manager thinking, ‘Well look at this place and look at what we can be’.

“Hopefully he is here for a long, long time and we can reach those heights again. He deserves all the credit he gets.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Spanish striker Ayoze Perez after his two goals helped finish off the job against Preston. Perez said: "Rafa is very important to our future.

“This season the team has played really well, this is a tough league, and we could promote straight away which is really hard to achieve once you have gone down. He's been really important for us and hopefully he's here for many years with us."

It was surprising on Monday to see Elliot recalled to the starting line-up for the first time since suffering a serious injury 13 months ago. Benitez was keen to give him some football in the remaining games, meaning Karl Darlow was on the bench.

The 30-year-old has still felt a big part of things and, having spent the last five-and-a-half years on Tyneside, he knows what being back in the Premier League means to Newcastle.

Elliot said: “It’s hard to sum up. It’s a magnificent achievement. It’s a brand new squad we put together – there’s a few old faces and a lot of new ones. We’ve got the club back to where we want to be. It’s the first step towards what we are aiming for.

“Personally, I’m just absolutely thrilled, especially to get some minutes after the injury. I’m immensely proud of everyone. The whole club, the whole city, from top to bottom.

“Everyone talked like it would be a simple thing to do at the start of the season, ‘Oh, Newcastle will go up’. But it wasn’t ever going to be that simple.

“For a group of players that young, that have just been put together, to a league that not that many of them know, to do what they have done I think is a brilliant achievement. Hopefully, this will just be the start and there’s a lot more to come from everyone.”