15 Things We Learned From Newcastle Vs. Portland Timbers 2

6. Jack Colback Is The Most Underrated Member Of United's Squad

After a few short games in a Newcastle United shirt Jack Colback had already become part of the furniture at St James' Park. His consistently solid, yet unremarkable showings for the black and whites meant he had become one of those players who seemed like they had been at the club for many, many years. You saw Colback's name on the team sheet last term you didn't really bat an eyelid. But the Geordie not being in the side against Timbers 2 just showed how important he is to everything Newcastle do well. The game passed Yoan Gouffran, Mehdi Abeid and Geroginio Wijnaldum by (although the Dutchman did get his name on the score sheet), which proves the former Sunderland man does more than merely hassle the opponents and get through all the dirty work. Of course Wijnaldum will come good in time after he plays more games with his new team mates, but Colback was the only man in The Magpies squad who would have been capable of putting his foot on the ball and dictating play in Newcastle's favour on Wednesday morning. We can't stress enough how different Newcastle were in the middle of the park without their ginger Pirlo. Forget Vurnon Anita being the pivot to play alongside the box-to-box Gini, give that role to Ginger Jack!