Jack Colback makes big claim as to why Benitez banished him at NUFC - would Rafa do this?
After admitting recently that the club had showed him 'no respect', Jack Colback has spoken out again, claiming that Benitez banished him to the reserves simply due to him having 'too many numbers' - with him failing to accept this as a fair reason for his recent treatment at the club in recent months.
Colback says he was treat like 'a number more than a human being', claiming there was 'nothing' he could've done differently, suggesting he feels he was innocent in all of this despite an apparent fallout with Rafa.
As we know, Colback has been nowhere to be seen at NUFC since the summer, with the midfielder's only appearances coming in Premier League 2 ties for the U-23's. He's been told to train with the reserves and essentially banished from all first team duties - with him even being snubbed for the squad photo.
He was named in the 25-man squad, however failed to make a single matchday squad and has since been loaned out to Nottingham Forest on deadline day.
Here's what he's had to say about the situation, with him suggesting here just why Benitez told him to train elsewhere:
“There’s nothing I think I could have done differently. It was his choice, he said he had too many numbers, I was named in the squad of 25 but still couldn’t manage to train with the first team, and that’s the way it goes.”
“I’m not sure (why I wasn’t given respect), I’m not the one who should be answering that - you’ll have to ask the boss back home.
“But it’s one of them things. I’m big enough not to be too upset about it, I’ve been in the game a long time and seen a lot of things.
“I think the disappointing thing is the way it’s been dealt with. I’ve been treated like a number more than a human being.
“But there’s nothing I can do about that, he made his choice and I’m not really looking back at that one."
This really is an odd one. Rafa is ruthless, but I really doubt a bloke of his class would completely ostracise a seemingly honest pro like Colback if he hadn't done anything wrong.
I'd love to know what went down and whose telling the truth here. Hearing from Benitez's side of it would be very interesting, but don't expect the gaffer to open up on such a subject like Colback has since making his move away.
What do you make of all this folks?
