Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Jack Colback has told the Newcastle Chronicle that he has ‘half a chance’ of reviving his Magpies career.
Colback has spent the last 18 months on loan at the City Ground and came runner up to Joe Lolley in last season’s Player of the Year vote.
In two stints on Trentside, he played 55 games for the club, captaining the side on several occasions last season.
It had been hoped that Forest can land the 29-year-old again this summer; although those hopes look to have now suffered a blow.
Under Rafa Benitez, Colback’s future looked bleak. He says that the strained relationship with the Spaniard wasn’t something he expected to happen.
Steve Bruce has now replaced Benitez and the ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss has given Colback a clean slate.
Colback told the Newcastle Chronicle: My relationship with Rafa was surprising. I got on fine with him when he was here and played games under him. It was just out of the blue, which was the only strange thing I felt.
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The ex-Forest loanee adhered himself to supporters with a number of quality performances.
He continued: “I went to Forest and really enjoyed my time there.
“Now maybe I’ve got half a chance here, so we’ll see what happens.
“It’s a bit unexpected to be back here but that football sometimes. Obviously, I knew I had a year left, but I wasn’t expecting to come back and be involved.
“All I’ve got to do is apply myself and work hard and if I’ve got a realistic chance to play, then, of course, it’s a great place to play.”
Seat Pitch Summary
The signing of Colback would have been a primary piece of summer transfer business in the eyes of many Forest supporters.
Whether the midfielder still has a future at St James’ Park probably depends on how Steve Bruce gets on in the transfer market.
It still seems unlikely that Colback will earn much game time at Newcastle next season.
The club’s supporters aren’t overly convinced by him as a Premier League footballer and his reprieve could well be short-lived.
For now, though these comments are a blow to Forest.
As one door closes – for now – another is thrust wide open.
With Colback seemingly not coming back, it remains to be seen who will step up the mantle next season.
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