Team news

Hughton sweating on Argentine duo Newcastle boss Chris Hughton is hopeful Argentinian duo Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez will return for the Coca-Cola Championship celebrations against Ipswich.

Both missed the 2-0 win at Plymouth on Monday night which clinched the title but Coloccini (hamstring) and Gutierrez (thigh) were due to train on Friday and have a chance of lining up against Town.

However, defender Fitz Hall, who aggravated a hamstring problem at Home Park, has been ruled out.

A mystery bug swept through the dressing room ahead of the Plymouth game and midfielder Kevin Nolan was ill on the pitch but Hughton has reported a clean bill of health.

Only Hall and Steven Taylor, who was close to a return from a knee injury when he allegedly suffered a broken jaw in a training ground incident, remain on the sidelines.

Ipswich manager Roy Keane is without on-loan Sunderland striker David Healy for the trip to St James`s Park.

Healy missed the 1-1 draw with Doncaster last weekend due to a knee injury and he may have played his final game for Town.

Fellow Sunderland loanee Daryl Murphy is fine to continue in attack, however, as he looks to end a six-game goal drought at the home of his parent club's biggest rivals.

A third ex-Black Cat Carlos Edwards will miss out as he is still recovering from chicken pox.

Former England goalkeeper Richard Wright was back on the bench last weekend after nearly five months on the sidelines with a knee injury and he should continue but Damien Delaney is out.

The defender will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury so youngster Tommy Smith will continue.

Newcastle 2-2 Ipswich

Last modified 15:23 26/04/10

The St James’ Park DJ blasted out a fitting tribute song as Newcastle United hoisted aloft the Championship trophy.

Deacon Blue’s classic anthem Dignity captured the mood perfectly.

It was played as a dressing-room anthem early in the season to focus minds.

And on Saturday it also illustrated the manner in which Newcastle have completed their journey back to the top flight. Dignity, on and off the pitch, is certainly a quality that’s been restored this all-conquering season.

Club skipper Nicky Butt, who bowed out on a high after six turbulent years, revealed how he will treasure his winners’ medal as much as his six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and Champions League gongs from his Manchester United days.

That was no glib platitude. Butt meant it. His first lesson in football from Sir Alex Ferguson after winning the FA Youth Cup at United was to enjoy and treasure every win, no matter what was at stake.

At 35, Butt’s playing future is up in the air. He could retire but has several offers to play on next season, but not at Newcastle.

So leaving the big stage with ticker-tape flying and a trophy being lifted in front of 52,181 jubilant Geordies was perfect.

He said: “Sir Alex once told me when I won my first trophy that you always have to enjoy it. Don’t be embarrassed to enjoy it and celebrate, he said. Whether it is the first thing, the youth cup, or this, I have enjoyed them exactly the same. The highs of winning the league, the Champions League and this.

“You don’t sit there looking at your medal thinking it is not the same as the rest. You have won it. You are just happy. Out there today, that could have been the Champions League.

“These are the occasions you want to savour again and again.

“It grabbed today. Anyone who doesn’t get a bit emotional out there must be a weirdo. It was also my last game for the club, so it was extra emotional. It has been a great day and I am happy it has ended this way.”

The contrast with a year ago – when depression, crisis and controversy were never far away – was stark, and not lost on Butt.

He added: “It is an amazing city. A tight place where everyone adores the club. It is a one-club city. It is unique in the way everyone wears the shirt. You come to the ground and see women and kids, the whole family, with their Newcastle shirts on. It is a way of life here, it is in the fabric of what makes the city tick.

“We have seen a lot of that this year because we have been winning games. We have been out for meals and got pats on the back and people wanting to shake our hands. Anyone in any walk of life likes that.

“With it being my last year here it is something I am proud to be involved with.

“After everything we went through last season, the contrast this season is amazing and it makes it extra special.

“What happened last season was always at the back of our minds and we had to put it right. To do what we did this season – well, all credit goes to the staff.

“To go out there at the end and get the trophy was up there with everything else I have done. There will be hard times ahead. and there will be good times too.

“We feel that we are only justifying where we should be anyway. We will celebrate but won’t go over the top.”

Even a Jon Walters leveller for Ipswich with the last kick of the match couldn’t dampen Geordie spirits.

Andy Carroll had opened the scoring for United but teenage starlet Connor Wickham equalised before sub Butt won a penalty converted by Shola Ameobi.

Butt added: “There have been plenty of ups and downs during my time here. Getting relegated last term was the lowest point of my career because this is a club that has captured my heart.

“Now we have got the club back where we want it to be. That is a massive thing for us.

“The manager and the board are now looking at players who will help us and improve us next season. We have to find players who are good enough to come here and improve the team but they must not upset the team spirit we have here.

“But Newcastle have to be realistic. You can’t go up thinking ‘top six.’ We have to improve on what we have done but we must not get too carried away.”

No one was doing that on Saturday but Newcastle – the club and the city – enjoyed its day of celebration before the hard work begins.