It is common knowledge that NONE of the five signings this summer were chosen by Steve McClaren.
But the one player he did aske for ... said "No!"
Cole has not been assigned a squad number for Roma this season and has also not been included in their squad for Serie A or the Champions League.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, there was interest in the Englishman in the final hours of the transfer window, with Newcastle making a move to bring the defender back to the Premier League.
The same report claims that the 34-year-old rejected the interest from the Magpies and will now hold out for a move in January.
Cole joined Roma on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2014.
Ins: Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven, £14.4m), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Anderlecht, undisclosed), Chancel Mbemba (Anderlecht, undisclosed), Ivan Toney (Northampton, undisclosed), Florian Thauvin (Marseille, undisclosed)
Outs: Jonas Gutierrez (released), Ryan Taylor (Hull, free), Adam Campbell (Notts County, compensation), Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff, loan), Remy Cabella (Marseille, loan), Mehdi Abeid (Panathinaikos, undisclosed), Shane Ferguson (Millwall, loan), Jak Alnwick (Port Vale, loan), Remie Streete (Port Vale, free), Adam Armstrong (Coventry, loan), Freddie Woodman (Crawley, loan), Olivier Kemen (Lyon, undisclosed)
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 ARSENAL 1
1. Tim Krul
22. Daryl Janmaat
18. Chancel Mbemba
2. Fabricio Coloccini
19. Massadio Haidara
8. Vurnon Anita 72'
4. Jack Colback
7. Moussa Sissoko 78'
5. Georginio Wijnaldum
20. Florian Thauvin 87'
45. Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs
9. Papiss Cisse 78'
10. Siem de Jong 87'
14. Gabriel Obertan
17. Ayoze Perez 72'
24. Cheick Tiote
26. Karl Darlow
27. Steven Taylor
Fabricio Coloccini's own goal handed Arsenal a hard-fought victory at Newcastle after controversial striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off just 16 minutes into the game.
The Serbia international, who has now picked up two bookings and a sending-off in his first five appearances for the club, received a straight red card from referee Andre Marriner after catching Francis Coquelin with an over-the-ball challenge in front of a crowd of 50,388 at St James' Park.
Arsenal, who had already started the better, dominated the game from then on, although it took a deflection off Coloccini to steer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's 52nd-minute effort in off the post to claim the points.
Arsene Wenger's defensive problems eased slightly before kick-off when he was able to name Laurent Koscielny in his starting line-up following his recovery from a back injury, while he preferred Theo Walcott to Olivier Giroud in attack.
Opposite number Steve McClaren restored the bulk of the men rested for the midweek cup-tie against Northampton with the inclusion of Daryl Janmaat and Florian Thauvin the only changes to the side which started the 0-0 league draw at Manchester United.
But his game-plan was ripped apart within 16 minutes when referee Marriner interpreted Mitrovic's challenge on Coquelin as a red card offence and dismissed him, much to the Serbian's astonishment and the horror of his team-mates.
The official's standing on Tyneside plummeted further when, having already booked Moussa Sissoko for a foul on Nacho Monreal, he swiftly added Chancel Mbemba and Thauvin to his collection, although none of them could have any real complaint.
However, he might have angered the locals further had he spotted Thauvin's 13th-minute trip on Hector Bellerin inside the box.
Most of what football there was before the break was played by the Gunners, although Newcastle's commendable organisation kept them in a game in which they were on the back foot from the off.
Keeper Tim Krul had to come smartly from his line to block Walcott's shot from Bellerin's volleyed ninth-minute cross, and the Dutchman was relieved to see the England striker fire wastefully wide of the target after he could only parry Alexis Sanchez's drive 13 minutes before the break.
But the Holland international was finally beaten seven minutes after the restart when, after Santi Cazorla's initial effort had been blocked, he palmed away Aaron Ramsey's follow-up only to see Oxlade-Chamberlain rifle home with the help of a deflection off Coloccini and the inside of the far post.
Krul enjoyed better fortune when he pushed away Sanchez's 58th-minute strike from close-range and then claimed Cazorla's snapshot at the second attempt.
The Magpies repeatedly tried to hit the visitors on the break with midfielder Thauvin attempting to lead the line, but they found themselves largely camped deep inside their own half and Krul had to deny substitute Giroud, Cazorla and Monreal before his day was done.
THE TOON'S GREATEST 100 PLAYERS ... EVER!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Toons-Greatest-Players-EVER/dp/132629685X
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website. The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for YOU (the reader) to decide who goes where. The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" ... no two people have exactly the same opinion. There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not. Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of NUFC's Greatest is up to you. Because YOU have the final word.
Otherwise ... if you want a signed copy (for a birthday, etc) for £9.95 and no postage ... you can meet me before a match and I will bring a copy along.
Get in touch: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
NEWCASTLE UTD 4 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara (78' Toney), Tiote, Gouffran, Aarons, de Jong, Thauvin (65' Mitrovic), Perez (72' Colback).
Subs: Dummett, Wijnaldum, Mbemba, Elliot.
Florian Thauvin announced himself on Tyneside in style as he put League Two Northampton to the sword to book Newcastle's place in the third round of the Capital One Cup.
The £13million winger opened the scoring on his first start for the club, and then provided the ammunition for Siem De Jong, Daryl Janmaat and Mike Williamson to secure a 4-1 victory at St James' Park with Marc Richards' 10th-minute penalty having briefly given the League Two side hope.
It was a first win of the season for new manager Steve McClaren, and while there are sterner tests to come, Thauvin's contribution and those of De Jong and Ayoze Perez in particular in front of a delighted crowd of 26,923 will have provided encouragement.
Newcastle have publicly reversed their recent domestic cup policy this season and McClaren insisted in the run-up to the game that he would field his "strongest team possible", although in the event, he made nine changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Manchester United on Saturday.
That included Thauvin's full debut and yet another return from injury for luckless midfielder De Jong, who was handed the captain's armband, and the pair were to make almost immediate impacts.
The game was less than three minutes old when the Frenchman stretched out a leg at the far post to turn home Massadio Haidara's cross, and just five more minutes had elapsed when De Jong rose to glance Thauvin's inswinging free-kick past goalkeeper Ryan Clarke.
However, the visitors were quite literally handed a lifeline when Rod McDonald's header from Adam Yates' free-kick struck Cheick Tiote's arm and referee David Coote pointed straight to the spot to hand Cobblers skipper Richards the chance to level, and he did not pass it up.
Richards headed just wide at the near-post seven minutes later with Town taking advantage of Newcastle's carelessness, although the Premier League outfit might have wrapped up victory by half-time with Clarke saving twice from Perez and blocking an injury-time effort from De Jong, who had earlier headed wide from close range.
Yoan Gouffran whipped a shot into the side-netting from Perez's 49th-minute lay-off as the Magpies attempted to kill the tie off, and they extended their lead with 56 minutes gone when Perez, De Jong and Thauvin combined before full-back Janmaat ran on to the Frenchman's beautiful reverse pass to beat the keeper.
The contest was effectively over seven minutes later when Williamson converted another Thauvin free-kick with an unopposed header, and McClaren withdrew the former Marseille winger to warm applause as Aleksandar Mitrovic joined the fray.
Chris Wilder's men, who had fought gamely throughout, continued to do so all the way to the whistle, but to no avail.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Fri 10th July (8pm BST)
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July (8pm CT)
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July (8pm UTC)
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July (7.30pm UTC)
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July (1pm BST)
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July (7.45pm BST)
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August (3pm BST)
Newcastle Utd 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach 1
Krul, Janmaat (Mbemba 62), Williamson, Taylor, Haïdara, Anita (De Jong 75), Colback, Sissoko (Perez 81), Obertan (Aarons 62), Wijnaldum, Cissé (Mitrovic 62).
Sunday August 9
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Cisse, Wijnaldum)
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Colback, Anita (Tiote, 67); Sissoko, Wijnaldum (De Jong, 81), Obertan; Cisse (Mitrovic, 75). Subs not used: Darlow, Taylor, Aarons, Perez.
Saturday August 15
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko (45' Taylor), Wijnaldum, Obertan (82' Mitrovic), Cisse (54' Aarons). Subs: Williamson, Perez, Tiote, Darlow
Saturday August 22
MANCHESTER UTD 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Krul, Mbemba, Taylor, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Perez (78' Tiote), Wijnaldum, Obertan (69' Thauvin), Mitrovic (88' Cisse).
Subs: Williamson, de Jong, Aarons, Darlow
Tuesday August 26
NEWCASTLE UTD 4 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Thauvin, Janmaat, de Jong, Williamson
Darlow, Janmaat, Lascelles, Williamson, Haidara (78' Toney), Tiote, Gouffran, Aarons, de Jong, Thauvin (65' Mitrovic), Perez (72' Colback).
Subs: Dummett, Wijnaldum, Mbemba, Elliot.
Saturday August 29
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (72' Perez), Sissoko (78' Cisse), Wijnaldum, Thauvin (87' de Jong), Mitrovic
Subs: Obertan, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor
Monday September 14
20:00 West Ham United v Newcastle United
Saturday September 19
15:00 Newcastle United v Watford
Wednesday September 23
19:45 Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday (League Cup)
Saturday September 26
17:30 Newcastle United v Chelsea