‘People have put two and two together and got 55’ - McCarthy dismisses Colback link

Colback, who enjoyed two loan spells with the Blues under Roy Keane, was at Portman Road on December 30 as a guest of former Sunderland team-mate Martyn Waghorn for the defeat by Derby County.

While McCarthy admitted a player of Colback’s quality would add something to his side, the Ipswich boss insisted the midfielder’s presence in Suffolk was a coincidence and that the 28-year-old would be more attainable for a Premier League side.

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“Somebody obviously saw him because he came down here and stayed with Waggy at the weekend so people have put two and two together and got 55,” McCarthy said.

Colback impressed during a prior loan spell at Portman Road. Picture by Ashley Pickering (Image: Copyright Ashley Pickering)

“Why wouldn’t I be interested in Jack Colback if he was available? But I think there will be Premier League teams available and we would only be a loan.

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“If he gets a chance to move and start again elsewhere I think he would much prefer that.”

Colback is out of favour at Newcastle, with manager Rafa Benitez insisting in November that the £40,000-a-week midfield has not future at the club.

“He knew from the beginning that we have four or five midfielders and I didn’t want to have six,” Benitez said.

“You can’t train as well with so many players around in the same position. I didn’t want that. If we need anything else, we can also play Mbemba. he played there in the Africa Cup of Nations.”

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