Hughton urges Newcastle to throw promotion party

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has called on his players to guarantee a bumper Bank Holiday crowd the promotion party they are expecting when Sheffield United visit St James' Park this evening.

Hughton's side moved to the brink of an instant return to the Premier League with a 3-2 win at Peterborough on Saturday, with a point at most required to make sure.

If Nottingham Forest fail to beat Cardiff in Easter Monday's tea-time Championship match, Newcastle's top-two finish will be confirmed before kick-off on Tyneside.

But Hughton is not relying on that occurring and in any case there remains work to do for Newcastle as they look to clinch the Championship title, with West Brom still in the hunt.

Hughton said: "We are so very close and hopefully we can finish the job off in front of our own fans at St James' Park on Easter Monday (when they face Sheffield United).

"That would be an excellent reward for the supporters who have backed us fantastically all season.

"You always want to wrap up promotion at the first available opportunity and while that didn't happen (at Peterborough), we know we are nearly there."

Newcastle's relegation from the Premier League came after a tumultuous season which saw Kevin Keegan depart in the early weeks and owner Mike Ashley face a supporters' revolt.

On the field, Newcastle were a shadow of the teams of previous years which fans had become accustomed to seeing challenge towards the top end of the Premier League.

Hughton, perhaps surprisingly considering his lack of previous management experience, has been able to turn the team's fortunes around swiftly.

Although the squad will need reinforcing in the summer, he now has a band of players he trusts.

That enabled him to make several changes for the Peterborough match, resting some stars who will return to face the Blades.

Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez should return, while Wayne Routledge, Danny Guthrie and strikers Andy Carroll and Peter Lovenkrands are also in the frame.