Wednesday 26 April 2017 00:00, UK
Rob Elliot is hopeful that Rafael Benitez will remain at Newcastle for years to come following the club's promotion to the Premier League.
The 57-year-old guided the Magpies back into the top flight on Monday night after a convincing 4-1 victory over Preston clinched the last remaining automatic promotion place alongside Brighton.
When asked by reporters if he would be managing the club in the Premier League, Benitez responded on Monday: "You never know, that is football."
However, Elliot is hoping that following Newcastle's immediate return to the Premier League the Spaniard will stay at St James' Park and build upon his success.
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. Being around the place, there is a much more positive atmosphere. When we have lost, we have bounced back straight away.
"But 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 Monday.
"Hopefully there are more of them to come."
Benitez could have walked away from the club at the end of last season, having been unable to prevent the Tyneside club from dropping into the Sky Bet Championship, but chose to remain.
It was a decision which followed after a 5-1 final-day win over Tottenham, and Elliot believes Benitez's commitment sparked a change in the club's fortunes.
Elliot admitted: "We were as surprised as everyone was 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 that he stayed just shows not only the type of person he is, but the type of club we are.
"That Tottenham game, 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."
The victory over Preston on Monday was all the more significant for Elliot as he was handed his first appearance for the club in more than 13 months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, which ruled him out of a trip to Euro 2016 with the Republic of Ireland.
Newcastle's return to the Premier League could well prove to be pivotal if the goalkeeper is to stand a chance of making it to the World Cup in Russia next summer and he will likely face a battle with Karl Darlow in the coming weeks and months.
Elliot said: "I might be getting a little bit ahead of myself after my first game, but that is in the back of my mind.
"I missed the Euros, I was absolutely devastated to miss the Euros. The lads were unbelievable and did the country proud. If I can be involved and can help in any way and if I can get back playing in the Premier League, hopefully it can make up for missing what was a brilliant year of football.
"Let's just hopefully play some games and go from there."
