This is Steve Bruce's plan for Newcastle United outcast Jack Colback

Steve Bruce says former Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback must leave Newcastle United – to “reboot his career”.
Jack Colback playing at the Premier League Asia Trophy.Jack Colback playing at the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Jack Colback playing at the Premier League Asia Trophy.

Colback – who played under Bruce at the Stadium of Light earlier in his career – last played a competitive game for the club in May 2017.

And the 30-year-old – who missed out on a place in Bruce's 25-man Premier League squad – is available for transfer along with Henri Saivet in next month’s transfer window.

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Ki Sung-yueng – who also had a spell at Sunderland earlier in his career – could also be allowed to leave.

Colback – who joined Newcastle as a free agent in 2014 after his deal at the Stadium of Light expired – and Saivet, frozen out by Rafa Benitez, Bruce’s managerial predecessor, have still been training with the first-team squad.

And Bruce said: “It’s that awful situation where you have to pick a squad.

“The day before (the transfer deadline), Jack was going to be in the squad. And, for somebody out there, he’ll be a very good player. I’m convinced of that.

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“The same goes for Saivet, as well. They don’t find themselves in the squad, so to train every day when there’s no game at the end of it is hard.

“I do believe keeping them around the place. Jack, being Jack, is a good pro, has trained every day hoping that he can reboot his career. He needs to move on.”

Colback, out of contract next summer, spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, while Saivet – who has a deal until 2021 – was loaned to Bursaspor.

Meanwhile, Ki, also in the final year of his United contract, last started a Premier League game in August, and Bruce says the midfielder is “entitled to knock down the door” given that he needs to be playing at his age.

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“Ki’s another one,” said Bruce. “I’m sure there’ll be two or three. If you’re not paying regularly when you get to a certain age, you’re entitled to knock down the door. I know what I was like. I wouldn’t accept that I couldn’t play on a Saturday.”