Newcastle have pulled off a “major coup” by keeping Rafa Benitez.

That is the message from Albion manager and ex-Toon chief Chris Hughton, who expects his players to be inspired by the presence of Newcastle in the Championship next season.

Benitez has agreed to stay with the North-East giants after arriving too late to rescue them from relegation from the Premier League.

Bookies have installed Newcastle as 5-2 favourites to go straight back up as champions, as they did under Hughton in 2009-10, while the Seagulls are 14-1 to make amends for their promotion near-miss this season.

Hughton told The Argus: “It gives them (Newcastle) that little bit of stability. They haven’t got to go out and get someone else.

“He (Benitez) has done very well in a short period of time there. It is a major coup for the club and there is no doubt it makes the division stronger.

“As a player you always want to play against the best teams and the bigger clubs. They don’t come much bigger in the Championship than Newcastle, so it’s one for the players to look forward to.”

Benitez won the Champions League at Liverpool and the Europa League at Chelsea in a trophy-laden career which has also included spells at Valencia, Inter Milan, Napoli and Real Madrid.

Hughton said: “I’ve met him on a couple of occasions. When ever I have spoken to him he is a proper football person. He loves the game and he loves the English game.

“I’m certainly looking forward to coming up against him. It will be tough, because they are a good outfit.”