Former loanee Jack Colback is the player Town boss Roy Keane is hoping to sign prior to Saturday’s home game against Coventry City. Keane spent the summer chasing the Sunderland midfielder, who had a successful spell at Portman Road last season.
The 20-year-old, who can also operate at full-back, made 33 starts and eight sub appearances for the Blues during 2009/10, scoring five goals. The former England U20 international made a huge impression during his time in Suffolk, winning the Players’ Player of the Year award and coming third in the Supporters’ Player of the Year voting.
Colback returned to Sunderland for the final game of last season, his Premier League debut against Wolves in which was sent off for two bookable offences. This year, having served his one-match ban, the Killingworth-born midfielder has been a regular on the Black Cats’ bench but only made it on to the field during the Carling Cup victory over Colchester.
Earlier today Keane revealed that he was closing in on another loan signing: "We’re in talks with a club and a player at the moment and we might have news on that tomorrow maybe, fingers crossed.
"We got the thumbs up [from the club] on Monday or Tuesday, I spoke to the player on Tuesday and I’ve been in touch with him again today.
"But the player’s got options, then there are agents and finance involved, so it’s the usual scenario, which I understand. We’re hopeful. He’s a good player.”
Back in May, Keane made it clear that he would be interested in Colback returning to Portman Road if he became available: "I’d take Jack back, of course. He’s been voted the Player of the Year by the players and that tells you how highly we all think of him.
"The boy’s still a kid but if there was a chance of Jack coming back here next season, Brucey knows where I stand on that — we’d take him here with open arms.”
Photo: ITFC