Aussie young gun’s future clear after MCG debut
Australian young gun Garang Kuol is set for more time on loan in Europe next season despite making his run on debut for Newcastle at the MCG and scoring in the penalty shootout.
After spending his first 16 months with Newcastle on loan at Hearts in Scotland and Volendam in the Netherlands, 19-year-old Kuol, from Shepparton, fittingly made his first appearance for the Magpies in front of his home crowd.
Magpies coach Eddie Howe viewed it as an opportunity for the teenager to “showcase his talents” but also said Kuol needed more game time in his next stint away from Newcastle before being a chance to make an impact in the EPL.
“It’s always very difficult to say for certain what’s gonna happen with a player at this stage because there’s a long way to go before the season starts,” Howe said.
“But possibly another loan spell for him I think will be important.
“He’s had a couple of loan spells now but I think he needs the next one to be a successful one.
“I think he needs the next one to be successful and we need him to play more game time and hopefully that’ll happen.”
GARANG KUOL!!
Here's how the young @Socceroos striker plunged the ball into the back of the net for @NUFC in their penalty shootout with @SpursOfficial!
Catch Global Football Week on 10 Bold and 10 Play! #TOTvNEW
📱💻📺: https://t.co/9T25mCDGrc
💻📱: https://t.co/d2z8qlUYgtpic.twitter.com/MCmULR6Lt0— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) May 22, 2024
Since moving to Europe, Kuol has only managed a total of 23 senior appearances for various teams and an average of 38 minutes per game.
Kuol came in to the game at the MCG in the 71st minute and went on to convert one of the spot kicks in the penalty shootout which Newcastle won 5-4 after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time.
“It was a case of just defending and seeing the game out in that way and I thought he contributed to that and took his penalty really well so I’m delighted for him,” Howe said.
Kuol is set for more of the game time Howe suggested when Newcastle turn out against the A-League All-Stars at Marvel Stadium on Friday with the toll of travel taken on a lot of the touring party who played on Wednesday night with some on their way home.
“Yeah, definitely he’ll be involved,” Howe said.
“A lot of our international players will now move back to their various countries where they’re going to prepare for the Euros and different competitions.
“It’ll be a younger team for us.”
