Carroll and Manquillo extend, whilst Elliot, Colback, Sterry and kids exit...

As things rumble on behind the scenes there was a break from the usual paralysis with a flurry of contract updates from the club.

Firstly, in the staying camp, there was some welcome news with Andy Carroll extending his stay at the club for a further year. Whilst the big man hasn’t featured too heavily this season, making just 4 starts and 12 substitute appearances, he has helped the team to 5 assists since his return and has made quite an impact.

Also extending his stay is Javier Manquillo. Perhaps more bizarrely in the midst of a takeover, his new deal runs to 4 years.

Exiting the club is Rob Elliot however, with confirmation that his contract will not be extended at the club. With no appearances this term he has been long relegated to a bit part player. And with Darlow and Woodman waiting in the wings the club has decided that is enough to cover for number one Dubravka.

His words here, say more about the man and his time at Newcastle than we could ever make do justice. Thanks for everything Rob.

There was also news that youth players Liam Gibson, Victor Fernandez, Luke Charman and Nathan Harker will be leaving the club.

Finally Newcastle will also no longer employ either of Jack Colback or Jamie Sterry.

Sterry played just 12 times for the Magpies, with one Premier League appearance and the rest in either the Championship or Cup competitions.

It would be a tiny bit disrespectful to start any summary of Jack Colback’s career by mentioning his previous employers down the road. But, ex-Sunderland player Jack Colback also leaves the Magpies having been on loan at Forest since 2018 and then not making the squad this season.

With 93 league appearances and 5 goals for Newcastle to his name his time at the club wasn’t that bad, certainly not in those early days when the Geordie faithful took great delight in the fact that he’d done the dirty not he Mackems by letting is contract run down and signing for Newcastle on a free. Over the last few years at the club his time not he pitch and place in the first team squad was non-existent, leading to his loan spell and eventual departure from the club.