JACK Colback wants to spoil his native Newcastle United’s party on Saturday and put down a marker for the Blues at a packed St James’ Park.

The weekend 1-1 home result against Doncaster earned Town their record-breaking 19th draw of the Championship season, but did little else to stir the blood.

As a frustrating season winds down, Ipswich have a chance to make a statement when they play a Newcastle side that thrashed them 4-0 at Portman Road last September.

They have little else to play for other than to try and finish in the top half of the table.

And for Sunderland loanee Colback the trip back to the north east will carry more substance than most.

He was a Toon fan as a youngster and the 20-year-old who is expected to return to the Black Cats next season, said: “Being a Newcastle fan is on my CV, but I ended up across the water with Sunderland, which took the edge off it somewhat.

“I played at St James’ Park for the first time last season and scored with my right foot in a reserve fixture.

“This Saturday’s game will be played in front of a full house and the atmosphere should be electric and the biggest crowd I have ever played in front of.

“Newcastle should have won the title by then, but we will have a chance to spoil their party and show how far Ipswich has come since last September.

“If we can finish off the season well – with a win at home to Sheffield United as well – it will give the team momentum to go and achieve a top six finish next season, which is what the club is capable of.

“No-one has put their head down yet and thinks the season’s over.”

Looking back on Saturday’s draw when mistakes by the O’Connor boys – James and Shane – presented welcome goals on a dreary but sunny afternoon, Colback added: “It was a tight match and they passed the ball well without really threatening.

“Once ahead we should have gone on to win 1-0, but this has been our problem this season to grind out results. Shane O’Connor got the wrong side of their player and when he was touched you felt he was going to go down and to the referee it looked like a blatant penalty.”

With Steve Bruce having Town’s goalscorer Connor Wickham high on his summer shopping list, Colback could be playing in the top flight with the 17-year-old at the Stadium of Light next season.

“I don’t know about that,” said Colback. “Connor is still learning but he is without doubt good enough to play in the Premier League.”