Newcastle United duo Jack Colback and Achraf Lazaar have been demoted to the U23s for preseason.

The Evening Chronicle says the pair have found themselves relegated to the reserves for the start of pre-season for the second season running.

Both players are sweating on places of next week's trip to Ireland but it remains to be seen whether either senior player will be used in the reserve team friendly away to Barrow on Monday night.

The Geordie midfielder was wanted by Nottingham Forest earlier in the summer but no deal has materialised and Colback is still on the club wage bill picking up around £40,000 per week.

Lazaar arrived back to Newcastle via private jet but will have to fight his way back to first-team contention after an ill-fated loan spell with Benevento.