Garang Kuol is yet to get going since joining Hearts on loan, and now the Newcastle United teenager has received some words of encouragements from a fellow Australian.
Kuol is currently away on international duty, where he is playing alongside Hearts teammate Kye Rowles. The pair were involved in the Socceroos’ 3-1 win over Ecuador on Friday.
It was an incredible fixture for the 18-year-old, who scored his first ever goal for his country. The attacker found the net on his fourth international appearance, and received huge praise from the Australian media.
But while Kuol is smiling in Australian yellow, it has been disappointment in the maroon of Hearts. The 18-year-old has started just once since arriving on loan, and he was criticised for his performance. In his defence, however, he was forced to play centre-midfield against Rangers…
The teenager is struggling in Scotland, leading to concern from Newcastle fans. However, his teammate has offered some words of encouragement.
Kye Rowles tells Garang Kuol how it is at Hearts
Rowles currently plays alongside Kuol for Australia and Hearts, while they were also at Central Coast Mariners together.
The 24-year-old was asked about Kuol ahead of the Socceroos’ second game against Ecuador, and delivered some words of encouragement, as reported by FTBL.
“You don’t really get to walk into teams, unfortunately,” he said.
“It’s probably what you want but sometimes it just doesn’t go that way. It took myself 18 months from when I signed my first contract to kind of break into the starting 11 in a first team. We just tell him to just keep doing his thing.
“Scoring goals for your national team’s obviously going to help a long way and I think once he breaks his duck over in Scotland, he’ll really show his true colours and just hit his straps and start flying.”
Rowles added: “The Scottish league is very physical and it’s a different style of play than what it is back here.
“They don’t care who you are over there – they’re just going to go through you. They don’t hold back challenges.
“He’s just keeping his head down and he’s working hard and hopefully he starts getting more and more minutes because he can show what he can do.”
Hopefully he can finish strongly before Newcastle return
The goal against Ecuador will have massively boosted Kuol’s confidence. Hopefully it can help him shine again in Tuesday’s international clash before returning to Scotland.
Kuol has made eight appearances for Hearts so far, seven of which have been off the bench. It has been frustrating, but he can’t expect to just walk straight into the team as Rowles said.
He is still learning, developing and adapting after his huge January move. While he has huge potential, he was never going to become an immediate star in the United Kingdom.
All Kuol can do is continue working hard and opportunities will come his way. He must take Rowles’ words on board, as he has hit the nail on the head.
Minutes in a Hearts shirt will come, and then he will be back at Newcastle in pre-season, when the club will have to decide what to do with him next.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
