Watford v Newcastle: Colback ready to return to left-back role he played with Sunderland

Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback is ready to step in and play at left-back at Vicarage Road tomorrow.

Paul Dummett is doubtful for the Tynesiders’ game against Watford, having limped out of last weekend’s win over West Ham with a tight hamstring.

The 24-year-old is being assessed ahead of the relegation-threatened Magpies’ second visit to Vicarage Road in the space of a fortnight.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Colback – who had stints at full-back for former clubs Sunderland and Ipswich Town – dropped back into defence against West Ham after Dummett’s withdrawal.

And he is ready to deputise for Dummett, with Massadio Haidara, another left-back, also sidelined with a long-term knee problem.

“It’s not a position I’m unfamiliar with,” said Colback, who missed Newcastle’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Watford a fortnight ago with a hamstring problem.

“I’ve played there quite a bit with Ipswich, and Sunderland as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s not one I want to do too much, but I can do a job there.

“He (Dummett) was just saying it felt a bit tight, so we’ll see how it settles down.”

Newcastle dropped back into the relegation zone on Monday night after Swansea City beat Watford 1-0.

And Colback knows only a run of results will lift the club, which held Manchester United to a 3-3 draw at St James’s Park last week, away from trouble.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We showed that when we won two in a row last time (against Tottenham and Liverpool) – you quickly jump up the league,” he said.

“Then we got into a rut where we didn’t win a game, and we got sucked back in.

“It’s important that we go on runs – it really lifts you up the table.

“We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. It’s just one win, and we’re still very much down there, but we’ll be looking forward to the Watford game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We looked at these three games (last week), and we said we wanted to win all three of them.

“I wasn’t at Watford, but it looked like we could have won that.

“We won (against West Ham), so that’s four points from six in the league, and we look to kick on.”