Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

It was the biggest turnover of players in Newcastle United’s modern day history this summer, with the Magpies clearing the decks of their high earners and long servers as Rafa Benitez sought to breathe new life into a squad that had got stale.

In fact, at one point the revolving door was spinning so fast it was hard to keep up with all the players heading for pastures new. Right up until the last minute of the summer window United were trading, with Moussa Sissoko heading for White Hart Lane in an astonishing £30million deal.

But what of the other players Newcastle let go? And what of those who were fixed up with new clubs in the summer like John Carver?

We have tracked down the most high-profile of the departed players and while one or two or prospering, it’s hardly been a bed of roses for most of them. Here’s a quick rundown of what happened to Newcastle’s unlikely lads of the summer of 2016.

Fabricio Coloccini:

Coloccini’s return to San Lorenzo was heralded in Argentina with a two-hour press conference in which he talked extensively about how he was pulled back to Argentina by the prospect of an emotional reunion with the club of his youth.

But a familiar problem has halted his comeback in its tracks: an injury. He hasn’t played since August 28 with a back injury, but there’s speculation he might return in a week or so.

For their part, United might be pleased that they have new blood at the back.

John Carver:

The pressure is on for Carver in Cyprus, who was being tipped for the sack in some local media last week.

According to the Cyprus Mail, Omonia’s board “convened urgently last Monday to discuss the team’s poor showing in the league so far”.

They continued: “The four-hour session finally gave John Carver a stay of execution (rather than a confidence vote) and anything other than a win against Ethnikos Achnas will see the Englishman’s tenure as Omonia’s manager cut short.”

The pressure was building because of two successive draws, the second of which was against Doxa – a team that haven’t finished higher than 9th in the Cypriot top flight before. Carver’s Omonia Nicosia are expecting to challenge near the top of the table.

“A couple of hundred supporters stayed behind after the game against Doxa to vent their anger against the club’s board, coach, team and players,” the Mail claimed.

That led to Saturday’s trip to Ethnikos Achnas being billed as ‘make-or-break’ – and Carver’s side won to give him and the club’s Director of Football Nikos Dabizas some breathing space.

Papiss Cisse:

Three goals in eight games for Cisse out in China, where he has struggled for fitness and form.

It hardly helps that his Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng are languishing in 12th place out of 16 sides – a paltry return after a season of spending big on the likes of Cisse and Graziano Pelle, who is reportedly paid £240,000-per-week.

Quite how much longer Felix Magath has is unclear, but he will need Cisse – who was not fit enough to be included in the AFC Champions League squad – to start firing.

Siem de Jong:

After the injuries, finally some light at the end of the tunnel for De Jong as he attempts to make his comeback.

He made his first team debut for PSV Eindhoven against Roda having shown signs of his undoubted ability in reserve games for the club, which included a spectacular free-kick goal.

A sneaking suspicion is that he may yet return and have an impact in black and white. Benitez certainly thinks there’s something there.

Tim Krul:

Approaching a year now since Krul last played, the comeback has been a long and arduous one for the former Newcastle Academy stopper.

The Holland keeper is targeting an October 2 comeback. “In October 2 I hope – for the home game against FC Utrecht – to return. And then it is up to the trainer to see if I ‘m fit to play,” he said this week.

Manu Riviere:

He went from Newcastle United’s reserves to the Bernabeu after signing for Osasuna in a “dream move”. But it was hardly a debut to remember – his new side lost 5-2 to Real Madrid.

Florian Thauvin:

One of the odder stories to emerge last week was that Lazio, still a bit peeved at missing out on Thauvin in January, had taken notice of his fine form at the Velodrome since returning to France and are looking to sign him in January.

Quite what Thauvin, whose heart was set on moving back to France this summer, would have made of that is unclear. And besides, United and Marseille have an agreement that has effectively sealed a permanent summer deal for just under £14million next summer. The only reason it wasn’t done this summer was due to complications surrounding the Ligue 1 club’s ownership.

Perhaps he’s better suited to France anyway. He’s scored twice this season and has been praised for both his attitude and approach since returning to Ligue 1.

Henri Saivet:

No sooner had he got going at St Etienne than he’s injured his thigh. Will be missing until November, which is not much good for a player that United are hoping will use his return to Ligue 1 as a chance to return to the shop window.

Sylvain Marveaux:

A familiar tale of a lack of match practice for Marveaux, whose lack of conditioning meant that he had to wait until September 10 before turning out for new club Lorient.

He probably deserved a fairer crack of the whip at St James’ Park than he got – and he opened up in August about his relationship with Alan Pardew, which wasn’t particularly good.

“There was no good feeling with the coach (Alan Pardew), who immediately chose other options before me. I always had to do more, but it was never enough,” he said.

“I could not really show at Newcastle what I could do. The coach remained for a good time (2010-2015), and it was not in my favor.”

Andros Townsend:

Maybe only two of the players who left Newcastle this summer saw their departures lamented. Townsend was one – but he had been pretty quiet until Saturday’s game against struggling Stoke, when he scored his first goal and ran the show.

“I thought Andros was sensational, he’s been threatening to do that and I hope Big Sam was watching because he was outstanding,” Alan Pardew said on Saturday.

“In his first few games, he’s not produced a quality moment offensively. He’s been sound and solid for us, but that wasn’t a true reflection of his ability. I was very pleased with his performance today.”

Georginio Wijnaldum:

Won praise for his performance against Chelsea last weekend, where he looked to be putting in a shade more effort than he was for Newcastle when they played away from home.

Wijnaldum – who has looked pretty decent for Liverpool – thinks that’s because he’s playing in a more suitable role for the Reds.

He says: “It’s difficult to compare my role here to the one I played at Newcastle. Towards the end at Newcastle I was playing on the left side.

“At the beginning I was playing as the No 10. I was almost the only midfielder in front of the goal behind the strikers. This is a different style of playing.

“In this style you need to look to each other. Sometimes when the other two in midfield are going towards the box, you need to stay.

“If James Milner goes forward, I have to stay, so you need to look to each other. At Newcastle I didn’t have to look because I always had people behind me. I could go to the ball every time.

“I have faith in the way we are playing. I’m enjoying it.”

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Gabriel Obertan:

He didn’t ever produce it consistently for Newcastle, but the talent that had persuaded Manchester United to sign him from Bordeaux occasionally emerged at St James’ Park.

Rafa Benitez clearly didn’t think having someone who has so far in the fringes at the training ground made much sense, and sanctioned his release before the end of the season. But now he has re-emerged in Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala, where wears the number 99 and has already hit the back of the net. He scored the winner against FK Ural last weekend.

Steven Taylor:

After a nightmare debut where he scored an own goal and didn’t last the rest of the game, things have settled down in the MLS for the Portland Timbers defender.

The Timbers are fifth in the MLS and Taylor has had a run of injury-free games. He even scored in the derby against Seattle Sounders – and he’s making quite an impression.

“He’s just a leader. You can tell he likes to talk,” goalkeeper Jake Gleeson said of the former United mainstay.

Moussa Sissoko:

Newcastle fans were glad to see the back of the France midfielder last month – especially for the money United banked.

Started his first game on Sunday against Sunderland but it was a low-key debut. Nevertheless Tim Sherwood has seen enough to suggest he can be the perfect partner for Harry Kane.

He told Talksport: “I think his best position is as a number eight, rather than wide. He is certainly one who can run beyond Kane. Kane needs runners behind him, and he gets that from Alli. I think Sissoko can do the same.”