Colback earns England call

Colback earns the call Newcastle new boy Jack Colback has impressed since his summer move from Wearside to Tyneside.

It's early days but his performances thus far have quelled some discontent voiced by fans who initially opposed the move for a Sunderland player.

And it would seem that it's not only fans of United who have been impressed by the 24-year-old as he's earned a call up to the England squad for the upcoming games against Norway and Switzerland.

Killingworth born Colback has represented England before at Under-20 level with his one and only appearance at that level coming in a 2-0 win against their Italian counterparts in March 2009. Colback will link up with his international colleagues after the Crystal Palace match on Saturday and will be hoping to make his debut either in the friendly against Norway or in the first group game of the qualifying campaign against Switzerland a week on Monday.

There is also good news for Rolando Aarons who has been selected by England U20's for their forthcoming game against Romania. That would still leave Jamaican born Aarons free to represent his birth country should he choose to do so at a later date.

Defender Jamaal Lascelles has also been called up to the Under-21 setup. Signed from Nottingham Forest before returning to the City Ground on loan, Lascelles has never featured for us but is likely to link up with us next season after another season of gaining regular first-team football.

Paul Dummet has been drafted into the Wales squad for the match against Andorra while Rob Elliot is part of a 36-man squad selected for Ireland for their games against Oman and Georgia. Dutch duo Daryl Janmaat and Tim Krul will link up with Holland as they face Italy and Czech Republic.

It's always nice to see players from your club represented at international level. Being English and a United fan it hasn't happened often that I can follow one of my own on the international stage - the last one was Andy Carroll - which gives me personally an extra interest in the England which I often lack. And for Jack, or any central midfielder, there are vacancies to fill in the first team after the retirements of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.

Now I just have to worry about them all staying injury free...