Loan midfielder Jack Colback has returned to Sunderland after his season with the Blues. The 20-year-old impressed during his time at Portman Road, winning the Players’ Player of the Year and coming third in the Supporters’ Player of the Year voting.

Colback says he enjoyed his time with Town: "It's been a good experience. I went there off the back of playing for the reserves and I felt the next step was to play at a level as high as the Championship.

"I think I coped with it quite well. The season has taken it out of me and I've felt it the last few games, but players play longer seasons than I have so I've just got on with it.

"I've played a lot of first team football which is what I'm here to do. I've taken the next step which was playing week in, week out in front of bigger crowds and at better stadiums."

Colback feels he has developed over the season and was delighted to pick up his gong: "I hope I've progressed and matured and I do feel I've grown as a player. Hopefully I can come back next season and make that next step into contention for the first team.

"Coming back with the award was a great honour. To get it from my fellow players was really special and I never expected it."

Steve Bruce has said Colback will be in his first team thoughts at the Stadium of Light next season and the youngster is eager to impress: “It's good to know the gaffer has got his eye on me and still has me in his plans. Hopefully I can impress him and push on next year."

Colback made 33 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues, scoring five goals.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

SouperJim added 13:11 - May 5 A really impressive young player, I wish he was ours. I'm sure he'll do the business for Sunderland given the chance, best of luck to you Jack.
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rubberblood added 13:16 - May 5 Well done Jack..... I'm sure you'll never play left wing ever again.
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randomblue added 13:18 - May 5 A quality player who is likely to go on and do brilliantly in the Premiership! Shame we are unlikely to see him play for us again but definately one for next years fantasy football team!
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bleedblue added 13:34 - May 5 Will be in contention for England if he continues to develop as well as he has this year. Fantastic talent. Thanks for the memories Jack.
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jditfc added 14:02 - May 5 thanks for your work Jack, hope to see you back soon
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StowTractorBoy added 14:05 - May 5 Still think there is a reasonable chance that Jack will come back on loan during the season. Sunderland are very strong in midfield when all their players are fit and Bruce has already intimated he is looking for new blood in that area. Waghorn has gone back also, so I beleieve Jack will struggle to get regular games. He will be more than welcome to come back here as far as I'm concerned. We will miss his workrate that is for sure.

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webside added 14:53 - May 5 Great addition to squad this year. Wish him the best (though not against us). We do, now and again, get some decent loan signings that make an impact in the Premiership - such as Mark Noble.
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Blueknight85 added 15:03 - May 5 I think he is good but to much "hype" behind him i think Bruce and Keane have a special deal to help inflate each others prices so some poor unsuspecting newly promoted premier league team splashes out 3 or £4 mill on him instead of 1 or £2 mill and if it don't work Bruce will let us have him for £2mill
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 15:06 - May 5 heres hoping steve bruce brings in a couple of midfielders, preferably left sided, and jack fails to get into first team by end of august, would welcome him back for another loan with open arms.....i think theres an outside chance we can still get him for another year
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 15:08 - May 5 however, if i had to choose between keeping wickham or having jack back, it would be keeping wickham every day of the week!!
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BlueArmy21 added 15:10 - May 5 All the best with next season Jack!!
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DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 15:44 - May 5 half decent player, looked good in a very ordinary team. Can't see him getting a regular start at Sunderland.
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yarmoblue added 15:47 - May 5 thanks for all your hard work this season jack and all the best for the future .
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samassiabou added 18:02 - May 5 Such a good technical and intelligent player. I just hope you dont rot on the bench at Sunderland!
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jas0999 added 18:25 - May 5 "I'm sure you'll never play left wing ever again" ... and still find a reason to moan about Roy! Simply unbelievable. Do you actually support the club? The Colback signing was EXCELLENT. Colback played well on the left, right or in middle. How some can moan on this article is beyond me. Well done Jack and all the best for the future.
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tom_the_blue added 20:14 - May 5 Yeah, I think it is unbelievable to play a plyer with all the attributes of a left midfield at left midfield. We should have put him in goal, toughened him up a bit. Honestly, how can people moan at Keane for making a truely brilliant signing and getting him to play well after finding his best position. Some of you lot are a joke.
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tom_the_blue added 20:16 - May 5 Oh, and thanks Jack, you have been the standout player this season, and God knows where we'd be without you. Wish you well at Sunderland, but hope to see you in a blue shirt again soon!
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ChambersM added 20:37 - May 5 in fairness i think he would have been better playing regularly in the centre, when he was played on the left he constantly drifted inside and rarely got crosses in anyway...problem was we've not had a proper left midfielder all season, but for martin but we all know what happened there...NOTHING (hhmmm keane, 2M was it?) cheers jack
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runaround added 21:00 - May 5 All the best for your career Jack
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blueherts added 22:47 - May 5 All our Ginger has gone - Naylor , Casement and now Colback Any in the wings - Great player and hope Bruce buys plenty of midfielders in close season and we get him back
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Eireannach_gorm added 01:07 - May 6 David Meyler's likely 9 month absence due to cruciate injury suggests that Colback wont be back. For all Roys experience of midfield, there is no sign that there that he has a handle on this area. Love to see Andy Reid pinging balls to Wickham ( we need some ball players, enough of the grafters!)
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MACKEMYANK added 13:21 - May 6 Colback could make his Premier League debut at Wolves this weekend. Be interesting to see how he does.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:39 - May 6 top lad, probably still not good enough for the premier, so fingers crossed he will be back in september
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True_Blue added 23:23 - May 6 Been one of our best players this season, would be good if we could get him back!
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