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Vurnon Anita has signalled his intent to stay at Newcastle United next season.

The Dutch international excelled in the right-back position in the last few games of the season and also played through the pain barrier for the black and white cause – battling on despite nursing a hamstring injury.

Anita signed for the Magpies in 2012 from Ajax when United were on the crest of a wave after finishing in fifth place in the Premier League.

A season in the Sky Bet Championship is looming but when asked by the Chronicle if he wanted to remain at Newcastle, Anita said: “Yeah, I have one year of my contract left and I will stay.”

Although he’s happy to stay, Anita admits he is devastated that Newcastle have not retained their Premier League status.

He added: “We had a very, very good run but unfortunately we didn’t make it. Now the focus is already on next year and trying to fight and come back straight away to the Premier League. We must come back from this and we need to. That is now the focus and the only thing.”

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Anita ended the season playing at right-back after Daryl Janmaat missed out on the run-in after punching a dressing room wall in the 3-1 loss at Southampton.

The battling Holland international reflected: “I have been playing and as a player you always want to be involved in the first team.

“I had to help the team at right-back and I had a good feeling about it. It went well for me.”

Newcastle signed off for the 2015/16 season with a resounding win over Tottenham Hotspur, thrashing the Londoners 5-1 to ensure they finished below their bitter rivals Arsenal.

After the game players and Rafa Benitez were applauded off the field despite dropping into the Championship.

Anita said: “They were amazing. They all turned up and gave us wonderful support.

“We gave them something to cheer about against Tottenham so we must go on from here. I hope they will be back.

“You could see that all the players were hoping they would. Hopefully we can make it a good year.”

Meanwhile, Janmaat has made it clear that Benitez must stay at St James’ Park next season.

Speaking via the club’s TV channel he said: “He did a great job. He’s a great manager. This is a big club and it needs a big manager.

“That’s him and I think he has to stay. Six games unbeaten and we finished with a 5-1 win against Tottenham - that’s a good finish, but it was still a disappointing season because we were relegated and now we have to start again. We have to look forward now.

“The club’s the most important thing at the moment and this club needs to be in the Premier League as soon as possible.

“(The fans) need success and deserve success - and hopefully in the future we get it. We have to go forward now and come back as soon as possible in the Premier League.”