After bouncing back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Newcastle United are back where they belong. With the Spanish master of his craft, Rafa Benítez, at the helm, their next job is to stay there long enough to build a platform which will then allow them to compete in the top half of the table and begin to threaten the European places.

With a manager such as Benítez on board, it wouldn’t seem out of place if Newcastle were to be involved in European competition sooner rather than later, but first they need to gather all the component parts to create a side which will be competitive in the division and, above all, avoid a return to the Championship.

Last season four players made over 40 appearances in the 46-game Championship season, and several reliable names and key players were able to consistently turn out for the side during this second division slog.

Left back Paul Dummett only missed one game and that was through suspension, while midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, centre back Jamaal Lascelles, and wide midfielder Matt Ritchie also broke the 40 game barrier.

A further eight players made over 30 appearances, and even if some of those were as regular substitutes, as was the case with Ayoze Pérez and the then Chelsea loanee Christian Atsu, it provided a solid base for the club to win the league and be promoted without having to go through the rigmarole and uncertainty of the play-offs.

It’s easy to pick the same players when winning, but back in the Premier League the club will face bigger obstacles and more difficult opponents at both ends of the spectrum, and Benítez's squad building skills will have to stand the most rigorous of tests.

So far this summer the club have bought well if not spectacularly. Atsu’s loan deal was made permanent after they paid Chelsea around £6 million for the Ghanaian attacker, meaning another part of last season’s success remained on their books. The 25-year old managed five goals and three assists in a mixture of starts and sub appearances, giving him 0.46 goal contributions per 90 minutes.

To bolster their defence Benítez plumped for French centre back Florian Lejeune for a fee approaching £9 million. In a market where good defenders are priced at a premium, Newcastle will hope to have found a bargain in the 26-year-old who plays primarily on the left of defence but can operate on either side, providing a reliable partner for either Lascelles or Ciaran Clark.

At £12 million 22-year-old winger Jacob Murphy has been the most expensive acquisition so far, and the player who impressed for England under-21s in this summer’s European Championships will look to challenge Atsu and Matt Ritchie for a place, preferably on the right, in the attacking midfield three.

Right full back Javier Manquillo took the risky trip across the North East from Sunderland after spending the last season on loan at Wearside from Atlético Madrid.

The defensive full back finally finds a permanent home after spending three years out on loan from the Spanish club, which included a stint at Benítez’s former club, Liverpool.

The next piece of this meticulously assembled puzzle has arrived in the form of midfield play-maker Mikel Merino, who joins the Magpies on loan from Borussia Dortmund after struggling to get in the side at The Westfalenstadion.

It’s no secret that the manager is still looking for a striker, and if this central attacking player is to be the final addition to the club this summer, then it’s likely to be a significant one.

The team is shaping up to accommodate the 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-1-1 often favoured by Benítez, and the former Champions League, Europa League, and La Liga winner can change his overall game plan around these two shapes, depending on the style of the opposition.

His side averaged 53% possession in games last season, and will regularly favour a more direct, counter-attacking approach should the game call for it. In their game at fellow Premier League newcomers Huddersfield last season, Newcastle only had 24% of the possession but still managed to win the game 3-1 thanks to their ability to soak up pressure and attack well when the opportunity arose.

This tactic may come in handy against the likes of Arséne Wenger, Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, as well as David Wagner, in the coming season.

Building a Premier League quality side after coming up from the Championship is a big test, but it’s one Benítez will relish. The signings which have already arrived make perfect sense, and a couple more before the end of the transfer window will see Newcastle right as they target big things under their big name manager.