Newcastle offer outcast Jack Colback to old club Sunderland

The former Black Cats midfielder does not have a future on Tyneside under Rafa Benitez and he has been told he is free to leave with half a dozen clubs interested in the midfielder.

Versatile Colback, also capable of playing left-back, has been offered to his old club.

And it is understood he would be open to a return to the Stadium of Light as he is keen to stay in the region.

Colback, who hasn’t played a single first team game this season, is understood to be on upwards of £40,000 a week and his wages would prove a big stumbling block for cash-strapped Sunderland.

A loan deal would be most likely should Chris Coleman make a move for the Killingworth-born player should he decide to bolster his midfield options next month.

Several clubs have been linked with a move for Colback in recent months including Championship rivals Leeds United, Derby County, Bristol City, Reading, Wolves and Hull City.

In November, Benitez firmly shut the door on a recall to his squad for Colback.

Colback – who was made available for transfer in the summer – has been training with the club’s development squad since August and the 28-year-old has no future on Tyneside under Benitez.

In November, Benitez was facing a shortage of midfield options but the Spaniard made it perfectly clear there was still no way back for Colback, who joined Newcastle in the summer of 2014 as a free agent after his Sunderland contract expired.

Asked about Colback’s situation, United manager Benitez said in November: “He’s training with the Under-23s. He knows the situation.

“We’re working with the players available now. He knew our idea from the beginning. We have four or five midfielders. We didn’t want to have six. I don’t want too many players in the same position.”

Darron Gibson’s return to form has boosted Coleman’s options in the centre of the park.