Any lingering hopes Nottingham Forest fans may have had about Jack Colback making a return to the City Ground are over.
The Newcastle United midfielder has picked up a serious knee injury in training which has ruled him out for the next four months, effectively bringing an end to his St James’ Park career.
Boss Steve Bruce confirmed the former Forest loanee had been hurt, and with him out of contract in the summer, Colback has almost certainly played his last game for the Toon, leaving the Premier League outfit saddled with his reported £50,000 a week salary.
"Colback hurt his knee so won't be available for four months,” said Bruce after his side were well beaten by Leicester in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.
After enjoying two spells on loan at Forest under Aitor Karanka and then Martin O’Neill playing 55 times, it had been expected that the 30-year-old would return to the City Ground in the summer following the appointment of Sabri Lamouchi.
Forest, however, opted to pursue other targets and instead signed Samba Sow, John Bostock and Alfa Semedo.
Colback initially featured for Bruce in pre-season on Tyneside, giving hope that he may still have a future, but those hopes were dashed when he was left out of the club’s Premier League squad for the new campaign.
Newcastle had hoped Colback would be farmed out on loan in January, but those hopes have now been dashed leaving him free to find a new club in the summer when his contract expires.
