Colback Aiming To Clip Eagles' Wings

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Jack Colback believes this weekend's visit of Crystal Palace is "massive" in Newcastle United's fight to avoid relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

The 26-year-old scored United's equaliser at Liverpool on Saturday as the Magpies battled back from two goals down to earn a point at Anfield.

Rafa Benitez's side now go into their penultimate home game of the season against the Eagles on Saturday (3pm kick-off) knowing that they have little room for error as they bid to stay in the top flight.

"It's a massive game for us, and one we've got to win really. We've given ourselves a chance now, but we've still got a lot of work to do to make sure we stay in this league," Colback told nufcTV.

"We weren't really on it in the first half (against Liverpool). They started very quickly, pressed us and made it difficult, and we lost the goals. But at half time, we came out, got the goal early and then gave ourselves a chance.

"We managed to fight back again, and we showed the character which we did in midweek against Manchester City."

Papiss Cisse's header three minutes into the second half pulled one back for the visitors after Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana had put the Reds 2-0 up before the break.

But United's fightback was completed by Colback in a much-improved display in the second 45.

And he believes that that resilience shown on Merseyside, which has seen his side come from behind to snatch a point in three of their last six games, is a necessary trait for the battle ahead.

"Players aren't giving up. We've been guilty of dropping our heads previously and not carrying on with the gameplan. We've kept on going - we said at half time we had to be better - and we showed our qualities," said Colback.

"We'd prefer to go ahead in games and keep the lead, but it's important that you fight back. No game's ever finished, and we did that, and it could be an important point.

"Goals change games. If they had got the third it probably would have been game over, but we managed to get it, get to 2-1 and it lifts the whole team. We then had another chance with Papiss, which could have gone in, and I managed to get the second.

He added: "(Scoring is) something that I always try to do and improve on. At the start of the season, I've been more defensive really, I've done that role more.

"Since I've been back in the middle, the manager's wanted me to get forward more. It means less time on the ball, but I've had a few opportunities before this one and that one just dropped kindly, took and nick, and it was nice to see it go in."

You can watch the full nufcTV interview with Jack Colback here