Mick Quinn: “Brendan Rodgers this week spoke about having more Scousers in the team like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
“How Newcastle could do with a Geordie like Alan Shearer in the dressing room to bang a few heads together at the moment.
“When you give the armband to an overseas player there is an inevitability one day they will want to go home.
“One day they will want to play for the club they started their career at or supported as a boy.
“They will always have a preferred destination at the back of their mind.
“Therefore it is no surprise when they leave the club.
“Colo looked good at the start of the season – not least in the Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland when he was magnificent.
“Since then it has been a steady decline.
“You have to ask what is the problem?
“Is he not seeing eye to eye with the manager?
“Does the club no longer match his ambitions?
“Is he trying to jump what is a sinking ship? Or is it something else?
“Either way, it needs to be sorted – and quickly.
“At the moment Newcastle need a bit of extra character in the dressing room.
“The main man has gone in Demba Ba.
“Now the captain could be going too.
“Sometimes after a bit of success things break away, piece by piece.
“That is why I always say if you can get it, have a hardcore of British or local players at the club.
“It is not good for the rest of the players when they see their captain walking away.
“I experienced relegation with Portsmouth and we had that.
“One by one people left or threatened to leave at the end of the season. It takes it toll.
“I just think if Coloccini wants to leave for football reasons he must come out and say what his intentions are.
“It would be a kick in the teeth for fans if he left.”