AFTER enjoying an “unbelievable” title winning party on Sunday, Ayoze Perez thinks compatriot Rafael Benitez is the right man to deliver further success to St James’ Park.

Benitez, a Champions League and regular trophy winner, was proud and satisfied with his achievements when he beamed after winning the Championship, sporting the winners’ medal around his neck.

He held initial talks with owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley yesterday  to plot a way forward ahead of a return to the Premier League.

Benitez knows what he wants and is desperate to hear Ashley will provide him with the financial clout in the transfer market to make Newcastle a force again.

Given his standing in the game and the respect there is for him, the former Liverpool boss does not want to follow up promotion by just making up the numbers in the Premier League. It is for that reason there is still a degree of uncertainty surrounding his future.

But Perez, who scored the opener against Barnsley to help secure the title, feels Benitez can bring brighter times back to Tyneside after the recent years of frustration in the top tier.

Perez said: "It is very important he stays. Under Rafa I think the future will be very interesting. Let's see what happens, but it could be a great future. He is very important for us now and next season.”

Benitez has successfully repaired the bond which had become fractured between the supporters, the players and the boardroom. While there are still doubts over Ashley’s vision and outlook, St James’ has been revived under his watch.

Perez said: "Sunday was absolutely amazing. Everyone started cheering like they'd scored the most-important goal of their lives at the end, and that meant we are champions.

"It's amazing because everyone went crazy on the bench. We were nervous sitting there waiting, but as soon as the referee whistled we became champions.

"This is a great achievement, something unbelievable and I will never forget it. I will keep my medal in a special place."

Aston Villa’s late equaliser against Brighton through Jack Grealish ensured Newcastle finished top of the pile. Just a few weeks earlier, the Magpies had drifted to long odds to win the league.

Perez never gave up hope. He said: "We always believed. We knew if we won every game and they started getting some defeats then we had a chance.

"We knew we had to do our job; we have done during these three games, then they missed their chance. That means Newcastle are champions - and I think we deserve it after a long season.

"Three games ago we didn't win three games in a row. Then Brighton got ahead of us by seven points. But we still believed, we kept going and finally we have done it.”