Jack Colback has insisted that he has no future at Newcastle United under Rafa Benitez, suggesting he will finally seal a permanent move away from the club this summer.
The former Sunderland midfielder has barely had a kick at St James’ Park over the last few years of Rafa’s reign, with him joining Nottingham Forest on loan last summer after being forced to train with the reserves by Benitez.
It’s since emerged that he actually has another year left on his contract – despite many believing he’d be free to leave this summer – so the club will be able to demand a fee after his impressive season at Forest.
Here’s what Colback’s had to say when asked about his future on Tyneside and a potential permanent move to the Championship club:
“I’ve not spoken to either club (Newcastle or Forest). This time of the season, teams just want to get the season finished.
“Then you can go away, have a little break, then reassess it. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll go away.
“Things don’t really happen that quickly with football, so it will be a case of just waiting, enjoying time with my family and then speaking to my agent and seeing where we’re going to go.
“I don’t see my future at Newcastle. I’ve not played there for a good two years now. The manager there made it clear I wasn’t in his plans at that time, and that’s not going to change.”
He’s played his part at times and actually looked a handy free-agent signing when he first arrived, but was on the decline around the time of Rafa’s arrival – and the two have clearly had some sort of fall out.
With Forest keen to sign him, here’s what current boss Martin O’Neil has had to say about a potential permanent deal for Colback this summer – suggesting he has no idea if he’ll re-sign:
“I genuinely do not know that. I need to have a conversation with him. I think that Jack – without having had this conversation with him – has another year left on his contract at Newcastle.
“I would not know what their plans are for him. Even if they are happy to allow him to move on, there are other issues that we would need to deal with.
“We will sit down with him now, now that he is out of the team for the next couple of matches.”
