Steve Bruce is set to give Newcastle United supporters fresh disappointment, as The Shields Gazette understand Jack Colback will stay at the club this summer.
New Toon boss Bruce has given the loathed midfielder a clean slate at St James’ Park, after the former Sunderland man returned to the club for pre-season training having been cast into the wilderness by Rafa Benitez.
The 29-year-old used his fresh start to feature in the club’s pre-season friendlies in the Far East against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, and remained in the squad humbled by Preston North End thanks to two late penalties.
Bruce had worked with Colback during his time in charge at the Stadium of Light, with the Killingworth-born midfielder making 26 outings from a possible 39 under the would-be Hull City, Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday head coach.
Former England youth international Colback, on the other hand, would go on to make 42 of his 102 Newcastle appearances under Benitez before joining Nottingham Forest on loan, where he made 55 outings.
Bruce is also thought to be planning on offering other Benitez castaways new beginnings on Tyneside, with every player given a clean slate.
Most of the St James’ Park faithful will be sure to be disappointment in news that Colback could once again become a regular name on a Magpies teamsheet, with some sharing recently that they would prefer to see the club sign injury-plagued Everton outcast James McCarthy if it meant the former Sunderland man is pushed down the pecking order.