The Magpies were already assured of finishing at the top of the pile before today's home clash with Ipswich, and a 2-2 draw took them to 99 points as they completed their home campaign without a single defeat.

He knows his task has only just begun, but that will not be on his mind tonight.

Asked if the hard work starts now, he replied: "Not tonight it doesn't, but we are back where this club wanted to be.

"We know, of course, it will be a very tough season because we are in a very, very tough league.

"You have to look forward to it. As a manager, as a group of players, as a club, it's where we want to be and we have worked very hard for it, so you have to look forward to it."

On a day when the game was almost incidental, Newcastle took the lead with 27 minutes gone when Andy Carroll powered home his 19th goal of the season from Wayne Routledge's cross.

But Town were back on level terms three minutes before half-time when teenager Connor Wickham beat Steve Harper with a well-struck shot.

Ipswich more than made a fist of it as they attempted to become the first away team to win at St James' Park this season, but they seemed destined to fall short when former Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter tripped substitute Nicky Butt inside the box.

Geordie Shola Ameobi, who had replaced Peter Lovenkrands with 66 minutes gone, looked to have given the story the perfect ending when he scored from the spot, but Jon Walters ensured the visitors went home with something to show for their efforts when he snatched a point in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

However, Walters' late intervention did not ruin the party after the final whistle as Butt and Alan Smith lifted the Championship trophy in front of a record crowd for the division since it was renamed of 52,181.

Butt had earlier confirmed that he would be moving on when his contract expires at the end of the season, and Hughton paid tribute to the seasoned campaigner.

He said: "We are delighted to have had him for the period of time we have had him. He is of an age where it gets more difficult, but he has always been a great servant to this club."

Town boss Roy Keane admitted he was disappointed not to have won the game.

He said: "We did well. Obviously, we have to look at whether Newcastle were in holiday mode - maybe some of them were - but I am disappointed with a draw, so if we had lost the game, I would have been properly upset.

"I thought we deserved it. We had the better of the chances and scored two good goals, but we gave a bad second goal away.

"But there were a lot of positives."