Rafa Benitez was delighted to have guided Newcastle United back to the Premier League.

Monday night's 4-1 victory over Preston North End bas confirmed the Magpies will finish in the top two in the Championship having suffered relegation last season.

"From the beginning of the season we worked so hard," Benitez told Sky Sports.

"And it's so difficult when you are in the Premier League and go down and have to rebuild the team. I am really proud.

"Everybody was saying we had to win the division easily, but you have seen teams with experience in this competition. We had to fight, play very good football sometimes, not so good at other times, but in the end we won and we go up.

"It's really deserving for the players, because they were fantastic, they worked so hard, even in adversity. I'm really pleased for everyone. I have to congratulate my staff, the fans, the city, all the people involved, it's been a long season."

Asked about his future at St James' Park, the Spaniard said: "We have to analyse a lot of things but I am really pleased here, hopefully we can do what we have to do to be stronger in the Premier League."