Jack Colback has a lot of thinking to do following Nottingham Forest win over Leeds United

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The 29-year-old has shown he has more strings to his bow but should he join the Reds at the end of the season if Newcastle part ways with him?

Jack Colback fell out of favour at Newcastle United under Rafael Benitez but he is doing his future career prospects no harm with an impressive loan stint at Nottingham Forest.

A difference in opinions last year between Colback and the Magpies manager regarding respect towards the player, as talked about in the Chronicle Live, was followed up by a loan move to the City Ground at the end of the January window (Transfermarkt).

Colback returned for a season-long spell in 2018-19 and has shown that he is capable of some superb displays, with such Whoscored ratings as 7.48 in November’s 0-0 draw with Stoke and 7.69 in the following game, the win against Hull.

The 29-year-old has however saved his best for last, netting twice in a 4-2 win over Leeds United on New Year’s Day, for a score of 8.66 – but more importantly, it showed he’s got an eye for goal on top of his primary defensive duties.

At the end of the season, Colback will be out of contract at Newcastle, at which point there will be a lot of things that will need to be taken into consideration by him, his parent club and his loan club.

The first thing is whether the Magpies will offer the £2.7m-rated man (Transfermarkt) a new contract – perhaps Benitez may change his mind, or perhaps he could leave the club (after all, his own contract is up) and his successor will want to keep him on following an impressive season.

Will Forest opt to snap Colback up on a free transfer? You’d assume they would given how successful he’s been with them but things like budget will have to be taken into account, particularly if they don’t get promoted.

And then, what about the player himself? At 29, he’s probably only got one more big move ahead of him – if other Premier League clubs begin showing an interest in him and the Reds are still in the Championship, would he stick or twist?

It all remains to be seen, but for the time being at least, there’s still work to do with the season only just over the halfway mark, and if Colback can help Forest into the top flight then the decision might be a little easier.