June 2014, Newcastle United sign a 24 year old Jack Colback on a free transfer from our beloved rivals down the A19. Sunderland had let one of their brightest talents slip from right under their nose. In a summer which saw United sign another bargain in £2million man Ayoze Perez, United were delighted at securing versatile Colback's services for the prime years of his career. Tipped for England stardom at the time, then Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said "He's a local lad and knows exactly what playing for this club means. And at 24 years old, his best years are ahead of him so I think he'll be a big asset to us."
Colback went straight into Pardew's first eleven, and despite the teams slow start to the 2014/15 season, the midfielder was a bright spark for United. The then England manager, Roy Hodgson was also impressed, calling up Colback for the friendly against Norway. Although Colback didn't make his England debut, as he withdrew from the squad due to injury, Newcastle fans were taking to Colback, with the memories of his goal for Sunderland at St James Park almost forgotten, he scored his first goal in the black and white stripes shortly after Christmas 2014, against Everton in a 3-2 win. He then made it two in two games with a 25 yard screamer against Burnley.
Colback was now affectionately known as "The Ginger Pirlo" by Newcastle fans due to his fantastic range of passing and consistent performances on the pitch. The likes of Alan Pardew and John Carver were long gone from Newcastle and the disastrous reign of Steve McClaren was in full flow, with the former England manger using Colback's versatility in both centre mid and left back roles due to injuries throughout the squad. With the teams performances on the pitch as impressive as McClaren's dutch accent, the "wally with the brolly" was eventually shown the door in March 2016.
Rafa Benitez was now at the helm and Colback was still an ever present (when fit) in the side. He scored his only goal of that season at Anfield, rescuing a point for Newcastle in a creditable 2-2 draw.
As we all know by now, Rafa couldn't rescue Newcastle and a hard fought season in the Championship beckoned. With many players leaving the club, including first choice midfielders Gini Wijnaldum and Moussa Sissoko, Colback remained. Despite a promising centre midfield partnership blossoming between Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey, Colback still made 29 appearances in the Championship winning season, although his performances were not of the standard from seasons gone by.
With United preparing for their return to the big time, and no meaningful money spent on transfers (now there's a surprise!) Colback was left in shock when Rafa never picked him for the first team ever again. Rumours of a strained relationship with the Spaniard saw Jack eventually go out on loan to Nottingham Forest. Looking back on that time, In an interview with the Evening Chronicle Jack said, "It was out of the blue, really. That was what was surprising."
Colback made a big impression for Forest, coming runner up in their Player of the Season awards. With Rafa Benitez eventually leaving Newcastle, Colback saw a second chance for him at the club he supported as a boy. Steve Bruce was next in the hot seat, who Jack had a good relationship with, from his time at current mid table league one outfit Sunderland. And with a squad bursting with quantity and light on quality, Colback was given chance at redemption in pre-season as he played both games in the Asia trophy. Unfortunately for Colback, Bruce made the decision to cut the "Ginger Pirlo" from his 25 man squad. Colback was now in limbo as the good relationship he had built at Nottingham Forest was all for nothing, as Forest had already replaced him.
A sour taste was left in the mouth for all sides, as Colback refused to go out on loan again, and also refused to be a part of the official squad photo, which even Henri Saivet turned up for! Colback was eligible to play in the league cup against Leicester earlier in the season, but he couldn't even find a way on the bench. The rumours now circulating around the club are that he is to be offered a settlement in January to cancel his contract for the remaining six months of his deal, to get him off the wage bill and to allow new faces to arrive in NE1. In what was such a prosperous partnership in the beginning, full of potential, it is indeed a very strange way for a player once a mainstay of the team, to exit the club through the back door.