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Crossing the divide. Behind enemy lines. Call it what you will, but to some fans rivalries run deep. So much so that even being born on the wrong side of a geographical partition between two clubs can bring you castigation. Take Jack Colback for example. Born in Killingworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, officially he is classed as a Geordie, but Sunderalnd fans couldn’t care less where their talented prospect is from as long as he performs.

Towards the end of last season he certainly did just that. A long list of injuries had forced the inclusion of youngsters to fill out the subs bench and in some cases the first team. With league status secured for next season there was little to play for other than pride but that hasn’t stopped him impressing despite a bad run of results.

A diminutive midfielder, the statistics show he doesn’t waste possession. Only two of his thirty five passes were misplaced at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton Wanderers, the kind of percentage that is impressive for any midfielder.

Joining the club aged 10, he progressed through the ‘Academy of Light’ that boasts other recent graduates such as Jordan Henderson, Martyn Waghorn and Grant Leadbitter. Players like Colback and the recently departed Henderson are seen as the blueprint of the club’s future, with Steve Bruce recently commenting on how he believes the academy can play a part in saving the club millions of pounds:

“It costs us a lot of money to run it, but yes, of course, there’s nothing better for the manager than to bring in a couple of the young kids. The supporters identify with them, and hopefully it will stand the club in good stead.”

It was in fact a former Sunderland manager who first discovered the redheaded midfielder’s potential. Roy Keane acquired him on loan for the 2009-2010 season at Ipswich Town, where he was able to notch four goals in just under 40 appearances.

He impressed Keane enough to secure him for a second stint in October of last year. He returned to Sunderland in January 2011 and faced arguably one his sternest tests to date, the Tyne-Wear derby.

A 76th minute substitute with his side losing 1-0, a last second equaliser from Asamoah Gyan spared the Black Cats’ blushes. His first Premier League start would come two months later, again an intimidating fixture away to Arsenal. Despite often being on the end of defeats when he has turned out for Sunderland, fans have noticed his calm nature on the ball as well as his eye for a pass.

For rivals Newcastle Colback’s emergence represents another local player lost. Michael Carrick is the standout example of local lad come good away from the club. Despite playing for Wallsend Boys Club (the same place Alan Shearer was first discovered) Carrick was in actuality a product of West Ham United’s academy.

Suggestions that Colback is an avid Newcastle fan not only make his appearance for Sunderland more poignant, but highlight the good scouting work on show at the club. He is not alone, however. Louis Laing, a highly rated youngster who made his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, was actually born in Newcastle.

His manager, who himself is referred to as a ‘Geordie’, has already tipped Laing for big things using the dreaded ‘P’ word: potential. Even if neither actually reach their projected development and end up being sold, they represent a missed financial opportunity for Newcastle, which is not a good thing when you consider Mike Ashley’s policy of club sustenance through player sales.

Following the sale of Jordan Henderson many see Colback as the ready-made replacement. Little has been made thus far of the rivalry, and where Colback fits in the context of Newcastle-Sunderland. The telling sign may come in the words of the player himself.

In an in interview with the Journal, he spoke of his pride at representing his “hometown club”. Of course cynics have seen this as nothing more than the player refusing to bite the hand that feeds him.; he just needs to look at Lee Clark as a case study on why a profession of love for the Magpies can be a dangerous game, although Clark’s issue was not so much a fandom for Newcastle but a t-shirt that claimed those who paid his wages at Sunderland were in fact depressed and illegitimate. Clark never recovered and was quickly shipped out. It’s unlikely if Colback did have the same beliefs he would be as naive as to openly display them in public.

It’s a big summer on Wearside. Depth is required and, with Craig Gardner and David Vaughan filling the void left by the departed Henderson and Sulley Muntari, it’s difficult to tell whether Colback’s chances will be hampered. Lee Cattermole was far from a sound investment last season, with his much publicized disciplinary record a stumbling block. His inability at times to pass even water meant some sections of the Stadium of Light would quite happily drive him to his next club.

Colback is far from a rarity. There have been a collection of players that have played for the opposing half of their claimed fandom. Take mullet aficionado and tricky winger Chris Waddle. Born in Felling he may have started his career at Newcastle but few remember his brief stint at Sunderland in the 90s as he wound his career down.

More recently Michael Chopra exchanged his black and white shirt for red and white. A huge Newcastle, fan his only goal for the club came in a Tyne-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light. It would be the corresponding fixture in 2009 that would see the beginning of the end for his Sunderland career.

With the game delicately poised at 1-1, Chopra stole the ball from Nicky Butt, leaving him and Kenwyne Jones with a two-on-one situation and a potential rare victory for the Wearsiders at St James’ Park. Panic set in and his attempted pass across the box ballooned wide, much to the disgust of his then employers.

Conspiracy theories aplenty sprouted that it was a planned mistake and that Rocky simply couldn’t put the nail in his beloved Newcastle’s coffin. Fans quickly turned against the player whose important goals in their debut season were instantly forgotten. A loan back to Cardiff City followed by a permanent transfer forever banished him to Tyne-Wear folklore.

Unlike Colback, Chopra represented his country at youth level. Colback’s omission is surprising when you consider this summer saw defender Michael Mancienne gain a midfield birth with the young Geordie left at home. The argument could be made that with his ability to retain possession in high pressure situations, Pearce could easily have done with his contributions, maybe even at the expense of former team-mate Jordan Henderson.

One thing is for sure, though. Sunderland have a bright talent in Colback and with the correct nurturing and time to grow, he could develop into one of the club’s brightest talents in recent history, with an England future not out of the question. After all, the country needs a new small redheaded midfielder.

This is a guest post by Kristan Heneage.

Tags: Jack Colback, Newcastle United, Sunderland