THERE is only one member of the current Newcastle United squad who has scored in a Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park, and the goal will not be remembered particularly fondly by the thousands of home supporters who will pack into the stadium tomorrow. Why? Because the player who scored it was playing for Sunderland.

Jack Colback was still a Wearsider when he rounded off an incisive passing move in the closing stages of his former side’s 3-0 win in February, and while he has successfully crossed the divide to become one of the most influential performers in the Newcastle ranks, the memory of his celebration in front of the Leazes End has not been completely erased. Tomorrow offers an opportunity to draw a line under it once and for all.

Derby heroes are cherished long into their dotage, particularly ones who cause special angst to the opposition camp, and for all that Colback has been readily embraced by the Tyneside faithful, a major contribution to a much-needed derby victory would see the Killingworth 25-year-old join a select band of players who hold a special place in Newcastle folklore.

Since leaving Sunderland as a free agent, Colback has kept his counsel about his former employers, refusing to be drawn into a war of words when the Black Cats ill-advisedly posted pictures on social media underlining their disappointment over the loss of one of their leading academy products to their closest rivals.

He has been hidden away from view this week, off limits to the media, so it is hard to know exactly what he is thinking as he prepares to take on his former team-mates.

For all his soft-spoken level-headedness though, it is hardly a leap of faith to suggest tomorrow’s game will mean more than any of the 208 senior matches he has played in to date.

While at Sunderland, Colback assiduously avoided discussions over what team he supported, but his family is dominated by Newcastle fans and while he joined Sunderland’s academy when he was still at primary school, his affinity has always been to the black-and-white side of the North-East divide.

“He was from there, but he ended up at our academy, which was good for us,” said Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet. “I was sad to lose him that way. You cannot be happy when I found out he was leaving, but I would have been happier if he had gone somewhere else. Unfortunately, he chose the other side.

“It was a massive decision for Jack, and he made the decision. He made it. Not us, not me. He helped us a lot and I will always remember what he did for me on the pitch. I wish him very well, but not on Sunday as I hope he has a stinker and plays badly.”

Sunderland’s loss has been Newcastle’s gain, with Colback’s assured control of the central midfield area proving a key factor in the Magpies’ improved form over the last couple of months.

He might not be the most flashy of midfielders, but he rarely concedes possession and his positional discipline enables the likes of Moussa Sissoko or Remy Cabella to push forward without having to worry about who is closing the door behind them.

His head-to-head battle with Lee Cattermole, his more combustible former team-mate, should be fascinating to watch, and could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of tomorrow’s game given the midfield dominance that Sunderland enjoyed in each of the last two St James’ Park derbies.

A repeat of his performance in this month’s win over Chelsea would enhance Newcastle’s chances of stopping the rot, and it is hard to imagine the occasion getting the better of him given the way in which he has successfully avoided the other potential pitfalls that go hand in hand with swapping Sunderland for the banks of the Tyne.

“I can only go on the conversations I’ve had with Jack, but I think he’ll be fine,” said Newcastle boss Alan Pardew. “I think he’s handled the move impeccably because he took a bit of criticism after it and didn’t respond, which I think was the right thing.

“I think he feels a bit aggrieved about the way it ended at Sunderland, but his performances for us have been fantastic. He has grown in terms of having a different role here, and I’ve given him a number of different scenarios which he has always answered.

“I couldn’t be more delighted with him. He was a major thorn in our side in the derbies, so I’m just pleased he’s not playing for Sunderland on Sunday. I’m not sure Gus would say the same.”