For newly-installed managing director Lee Charnley the signing of Jack Colback satisfies a lot of the criteria noted down on Mike Ashley's recruitment blueprint. He's 24-years of age, left-footed, versatile and, most important of all, arrives at St James' Park at no expense after allowing his contract at Sunderland to run down. Moving between the Tyne-Wear divide will undoubtedly bring it's own issues for Colback and the path to Tyneside redemption will be a bumpy one with supporters still yet to forgive his infamous 'shush' celebration after scoring for the Mackems at his new home in February. But, at the end of the day, he's a Geordie and he symbolises the first step towards reestablishing a local equilibrium in a dressing room dominated by our large French contingent and large swathes of foreigner players. And theres the fact that Colback is talented and in time will prove an astute acquisition by the Club despite the disenchantment that has greeted his arrival. But how well acquainted are you with Jack Colback? We've compiled 10 facts that you need to know about Newcastle's newest signing.
10. He's Definitely Signed For NUFC
Well the evidence is irrefutable, isn't it? Although official confirmation filtered through on Monday morning it's safe to say that we knew Newcastle has signed Colback after pictures were leaked onto Twitter and Instagram this morning of the Geordie midfielder being paraded to the Club's media team on the St James' Park pitch following a tour of his new home. Colback has put pen-to-paper a "long-term deal" according to the Chronicle with the Magpies likely to persist with their non-disclosure trend of refusing to publicly divulge the length of a player's contract. But the 24-year-old has definitely signed on a free transfer from local enemies Sunderland and is the second summer acquisition overseen by Charnley. Underwhelming? Perhaps, but after being starved of a permanent signing for 18 months it has certainly quelled the hunger pangs ever so slightly, although the caveat is that it has raised the appetite amongst Toon supporters for a marquee addition to the squad.