Eddie Howe has confirmed that Park Seung-soo could make his Newcastle United debut on Wednesday.
Newcastle are playing Team K-League in Suwon as their pre-season tour of Asia continues into South Korea.
Howe’s side are yet to win this summer. Newcastle were beaten 4-0 by Celtic earlier this month before losing their first game of the Asian tour against Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday.
There have not been many new faces for fans to get excited about this summer. Anthony Elanga is one and scored on his first start last time out, while Park Seung-soo is another.
The 18-year-old forward joined Newcastle from Suwon Bluewings earlier this summer and will no doubt be keen to appear in front of supporters inside the same stadium where his former club play.
Howe has revealed he will try and give the teenager his debut.
Eddie Howe confirms Park Seung-soo debut plan
During Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the game, the Newcastle United manager was asked about the teenager.
Howe confirmed that he would try and hand the forward a debut but only if the conditions were right.
The fact is, Newcastle are looking to win the game and cannot afford to make sentimental decisions if the timing isn’t right.
“I’ll do everything I can to try to get him on the pitch because I think that’ll be important for him and of course everyone that wants to see him play,” he said (via Newcastle United’s official website).
“I’ll certainly do my best. We’ve got lots of information we’ll be giving him but I think it’ll just be a case of go out and play his normal game and that will be good enough.”
Newcastle United have confirmed Park Seung-soo’s squad number
The teenager was on the bench for Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal but was not brought on despite Howe making wholesale changes at the break.
It would be nice to see him in action on Wednesday, however. Clearly, Howe has to feel it’s the right thing for the team, but the hope is that Newcastle are comfortably winning anyway by the time he potentially takes to the field.
Newcastle have confirmed Seung-soo will wear the No.64 shirt, which has only previously been worn by one other player.
Defender Jeff Henderson was given it in 2011 but never made a senior appearance for the club.
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