Jack Colback’s name is back in the headlines, which has inevitably sparked talk of a possible return to Nottingham Forest.
The midfielder has previously taken in two productive spells on Trentside.
A third was mooted over the summer when another transfer window swung open.
The decision was, however, taken at that stage to remain on the books at Newcastle.
With Steve Bruce offering a clean slate to those at St James’ Park, Colback was hoping for a reversal in fortune with the Magpies.
One has not materialised.
He was not given a Premier League squad number and remains firmly frozen out on Tyneside.
With January fast approaching, another opportunity to get out is about to present itself.
Given his ambition and desire to actually do his job, a switch for Colback should be considered likely.
Punt
Danny Mills has told Football Insider of the speculation which is starting to build: “Yeah, I’m sure there will be lots of loan deals around.
“We all know that teams at the lower end of the Premier League and the higher end of the Championship get to January and think: ‘Right, who’s available, who can we nick on loan for six months? Even if we pay half the wages, it might be worth the gamble to get somebody in’.”
Colback is certainly worth a punt by someone.
That someone probably shouldn’t be Nottingham Forest.
The Reds have moved on.
With there no deal for Colback to be done in the last window, Sabri Lamouchi bolstered his midfield with moves for Alfa Semedo, Samba Sow and John Bostock.
When fit, they all have a role to play.
With Ben Watson enjoying something of a sporting Indian Summer in a holding role that is now his for as long as he wants it.
Colback’s face doesn’t fit.
Certainly when taking into account the £50,000-a-week The Telegraph report him to be on at Newcastle.
Waste
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Even taking on only a percentage of that salary as part of another loan agreement would appear to be a waste of funds.
Of course, a bigger picture could be taken into account.
Come the end of the season, short-term agreements for Semedo and Bostock will come to an end and they may never be seen again.
Reinforcements in the middle of the park would then be required, and a familiar face could slip seamlessly into the fold.
Colback will be a free agent in 2020.
He is also now 30 years of age and it may be – with it yet to be determined which division Forest will be playing in next season – that younger, more long-term options are favoured.
That is not to say that Colback does not have many more years left in him.
He has, however, seen no Premier League football since 2016 and no minutes at all this term.
Given where Forest want to be in the future and what they have at their disposal in the present, another look to the past – even as a gamble with little risk involved – is no longer required.
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