Nottingham Forest loanee is more familiar with new boss than most.
One Nottingham Forest player already has the inside track on working with new manager Martin O’Neill.
Jack Colback played under O’Neill at Sunderland, and also worked with his controversial assistant Roy Keane during a loan spell at Ipswich Town.
Colback is on loan at Forest from Newcastle until the end of the season.
He is likely to play a prominent role under O’Neill, as a familiar face the new Forest manager can trust.
Colback explained in an interview with The Guardian why O’Neill is such a good manager.
The midfielder said: “He treats you like you’re his best mate, that’s why he gets so much out of us.
“Martin O’Neill shows a lot of care towards you and takes time to talk to everyone privately. You want to do well for him, so he’s able to get that extra bit out of people.”
Roy Keane has been a notoriously abrasive coach to work under and Colback says he has experienced his negative side.
Colback also said any dressing downs he received were deserved, and that he actually really benefitted from working under Keane.
He added: “He told me to believe in my ability and, having played in the same position, he taught me a few things about the game which are really helping now. He was very good at building my confidence up.
“I’ve been on the receiving end of a few of his dressing-room tantrums, but he only did that when it was deserved, when the team hadn’t performed. And, much as he could really dish it out, he was always very quick to praise you when you did well.”
Forest players will rightly be wary of Keane’s reputation. Having a player like Colback who has worked with him already will be key.
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