Former Barcelona target makes Newcastle United debut - career at worrying crossroads
Garang Kuol made his first competitive start for Newcastle United - albeit for the under-21s against Mansfield Town in the EFL Trophy.
Instead of gearing up for the Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea, Garang Kuol debuted for the under-21s against Mansfield Town last night. That is perhaps an indictment of how the Australian international’s Toon career has panned out.
A tricky test for Diarmuid O’Carroll’s youth side saw them battered 3-0 in the EFL Trophy by senior opposition. This was Kuol’s first competitive game for the Magpies, albeit for the second string in a unique competition that allows Premier League reserve outfits to face seasoned lower-league sides.
Two years ago, Newcastle thought they had signed a wonderkid. Kuol was just weeks away from starring at the World Cup for Australia, the nation he fled to as a war-torn refugee as a mere one-year-old.
Barcelona were reportedly interested but the Magpies, buoyed by their recent takeover, sold the prospect the dream. Coming off the bench in the Socceroos’ last-16 defeat to Argentina made him the youngest player since Pele to play a knockout World Cup game.
But unfortunately for him, that is where the comparisons end. His move to Newcastle was confirmed a month later and, in fairness to Kuol, he was mishandled from the start.
The 18-year-old was taken from the depths of Australian summer and immediately sent on loan to Hearts, where January temperatures reach freezing point. Hardly a shrewd move from all involved…
Another stint at Dutch outfit Volendam last season also proved unsuccessful, with just one goal from 16 outings. Any hopes of heading on loan again were dashed by a pre-season injury until his return at Mansfield last night.
A confidence-bereft performance saw Kuol blunder two chances before being hooked on 62 minutes. No longer the prodigy of Aussie football chased by Barcelona, the forward’s career is at a crossroads as he ponders his next step.
Newcastle signed Kuol as a potential first-team superstar or to develop him before turning over a tidy profit. The truth is, little since his move from Central Coast Mariners could convince anyone that either outcome looks likely.