FORMER Sunderland and Newcastle United midfielder Jack Colback will be looking to get his career back on track after signing for Nottingham Forest.

Colback, who has had two previous loan spells at the City Ground, has not kicked a ball since appearing for Forest in a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United in April 2019.

Having fallen out of favour at Newcastle under Rafael Benitez, he returned to Tyneside last summer hoping to force his way into Steve Bruce’s first-team plans.

However, Bruce opted to leave him out of Newcastle’s Premier League squad at the start of last season, and a series of proposed loan moves collapsed, meaning he found himself training with the Magpies’ Under-23s squad for large periods of last term.

His departure from St James’ Park as a free agent was formally confirmed earlier this summer, and he has agreed to return to Nottingham Forest, where he has previously enjoyed considerable success under former managers Aitor Karanka and Martin O’Neill as a loan player.

“Nottingham Forest are delighted to announce that midfielder Jack Colback has signed a permanent contract with the club,” said Forest in a statement.

“The former Sunderland and Newcastle man made over 200 appearances in the North-East regularly featuring in the Premier League before enjoying two successful loan spells at The City Ground where he made over 50 appearances.”

Prior to playing for Newcastle, Killingworth-raised Colback made more than 100 senior appearances for Sunderland after graduating through the youth ranks at the Academy of Light.