Newcastle fans will be bidding their midfield maestro and star turned Isaac Hayden farewell soon enough, but when he leaves there will be a need to bring in a new midfield man to replace him. The Geordies have known of his want for an exit for a while, but his perfect replacement may be one that they don't even need to go out and find.

As Hayden will likely be on his way, Jack Colback will be returning to St. James' Park this summer after a stellar loan spell at The City Ground with Nottingham Forest. The former Sunderland man has added goals to his game in his time in the Championship, and next season could see the 29-year-old return to St. James' Park and add to his 102 appearances in the black and white of Newcastle United.

Colback has the ability to star as a box-to-box midfielder but his recent ability to put the ball in the net gives him a new dimension at the club. Hayden may have been a star turned despite his intentions to leave the club and get closer to his family but the one thing he didn't have to his game despite everything else was the ability to score goals regularly.

This season we've seen Nottingham Forest endure an indifferent campaign, but the goals have flown for the City Ground side, with Colback grabbing himself three goals and two assists in his 38 Championship games this season. It may not sound like a lot, but in contrast, the midfielder only managed two extra goals in 74 more games for the Magpies during his time at the club.

It is certainly a long shot, and if Rafa Benitez stays at the club the Spaniard may be reluctant to throw Colback back into action for them, but if the former Sunderland man can come in and prove to be worth his salt then there really is no reason why he cannot step up as the Geordies answer to Isaac Hayden's departure. It would also save Mike Ashley a few million on a replacement too, working out for everyone at the club.

Yes, it ended fairly sourly for him prior to his exit but a second chance alongside Sean Longstaff could be a masterstroke.

Newcastle fans, wud you mind seeing Colback replace Hayden? Let us know!