Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback targets a return to form

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The former Sunderland man has been in and out of Rafael Benitez’s Magpies’ side so far this season.

Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback has targeted a return to form after enduring a disappointing personal spell with the Magpies over the past 18 months, according to comments in The Chronicle.

After controversially crossing the dreaded Wear-Tyne divide to sign for Newcastle from arch-rivals Sunderland in the summer of 2014, Colback quickly dispelled any reservations that the Toon Army may have had about his commitment and ability by turning in a series of accomplished displays during his opening months with the club.

The all-action performances which arrived during the infancy of Colback’s Newcastle career were of such a high-calibre that they swiftly led to his first call-up to the England senior squad, as well as landing him the infamous ‘Ginger Pirlo’ nickname, which has continued to stick with him over the years.

Unfortunately, following an auspicious start to life with the club he supported as a boy, Colback’s form began to take a turn for the worse during the second half of the 2014/15 campaign and it has never truly picked up since.

The 26-year-old’s performance levels did not improve during last season’s bitterly disappointing relegation campaign and, with a majority of Newcastle fans beginning to highlight the glaring limitations of Colback’s game, he soon found himself in the firing line due to a prolonged run of under-par displays, performances that ultimately contributed to the Magpies’ painful demise.

However, now playing under the erudite guidance of Rafael Benitez, Colback is hopeful that, despite being in and out of the Newcastle starting XI so far this season, he can recapture the impressive form he displayed during the early stages of his St James’ Park career and help the club gain promotion.

“I’ve been in and out a bit this season but hopefully when I’ve come in I’ve done my bit and I’m hoping to continue that.” The flame-haired midfielder told The Chronicle.

“I want to get back to the level I was at then (when Colback first arrived). First and foremost I want to take Newcastle back into the Premier League – I think it’s a duty if you were part of the group that took the club down to try and get it back to where it needs to be.”

Colback did look back to his old self in Newcastle’s most recent outing against Rotherham United, with the former Sunderland man covering every blade of grass and marshalling the back four expertly as he helped the Magpies hold on to a 1-0 lead for an invaluable three points.

With fierce competition from gifted youngster Isaac Hayden and the returning Cheick Tiote, Colback will have to maintain the level of performance he demonstrated at The New York Stadium if he is to nail down a regular spot in Benitez’s starting XI heading into the winter months. However, the Geordie schemer has certainly shown that he still has plenty to offer.