Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United have signed a ‘world class’ player in Australia wonderkid Garang Kuol, Central Coast Mariners team-mate Jason Cummings says in quotes reported by The Chronicle.
A big claim indeed.
Kuol only celebrated his 18th birthday a couple of weeks ago and hasn’t even made his tenth appearance in the Australian A-League yet. The Egypt-born forward is clearly no ordinary 18-year-old, however, with his £300,000 move to St James’ Park capturing the imagination Down Under.
“He’s (Kuol) getting hyped up everywhere. He’s a good lad. Away from football as well, he’s just a normal kid. He’s a good lad and he’s humble,” says Cummings, the former Rangers and Nottingham Forest striker.
“With all this hype, he keeps his feet on the ground. He doesn’t let it get to him. He’s taking everything in his stride.
“Everyone can see how good a player he is. Even when he comes on for like 20 minutes, you can see glimpses and he’s a world-class player. He’s only 18 so he’s got a bright future.”
Newcastle United newbie Garang Kuol a ‘world class’ player
This is not the first time Kuol’s maturity has been highlighted as one of the forward’s key strengths; the teenager backed to take the pressure of the Premier League in his stride. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted last week that, after Kuol was spotted in the Craven Cottage stands for the 4-1 win at Fulham, he had been impressed by his determination to embrace life on Tyneside.
“I’ll maybe tell him that, say; ‘it doesn’t last forever son, so enjoy it while it lasts’,” adds Cummings.
“But I feel like giving advice to Garang wouldn’t be worth it. He’s the type of guy and he’s the type of player where, if you try to teach him too much or tell him what to do, it’s just going to hinder him.
“You need to just let him be free, let him enjoy himself, let him enjoy his football and (say); ‘just do what you want, man. Go on the pitch and just do what you normally do.’ But he’s taking everything in his stride. He’s not letting it affect him. So he’s pretty golden.”
Kuol, who has been compared to a young Kylian Mbappe and labelled an ‘unbelievable’ talent by Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez, already has four goals in just eight A-League matches for the Mariners.
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