‘He needs work’: Ex-PL boss highlights two areas where Newcastle-bound Garang Kuol must improve

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Guus Hiddink has calmed the hype on Garang Kuol after his move from Central Coast Mariners to Newcastle United was confirmed.

Newcastle have been at the front of the queue for Kuol for weeks and finally landed their man on Friday.

The Magpies have completed a deal for Kuol and he will officially become a Newcastle player when the January transfer window opens.

Kuol doesn’t yet qualify for a work permit to play in England so will likely head out on loan in January, with Newcastle just glad to have him secured.

The teenager is in line to play at the World Cup after breaking into the Australia squad and could have been targeted by other clubs if Newcastle hadn’t struck now.

Guus Hiddink has calmed the hype on Garang Kuol

The hype around Kuol has been building and building.

The 18-year-old has been hailed as ‘special’ by Central Coast Mariners manager Nick Montgomery having emerged into their first team.

After shining on his Australia debut against New Zealand, Kuol was described as ‘thrilling’ thanks to his ‘immense speed’ by the Australian media.

Newcastle fans will be getting very excited about Kuol, especially after he was in with the away fans as the Magpies hammered Fulham 4-1 on Saturday.

Yet one man isn’t quite on board with the hype just yet, with Guus Hiddink attempting to calm some of the expectation.

Former Chelsea and Australia boss Hiddink has told Code Sports in Australia that he doesn’t think people should be getting too excited about Kuol just yet.

Hiddink suggests that Kuol has real talent but he needs to improve on many things, such as his physicality and his technique.

We have seen many players over the years who have searing pace but aren’t quite able to add other aspects of the game.

Hiddink seemingly thinks Kuol could be one of those players if he doesn’t develop the right way – and that will now be down to Newcastle to get right in the coming years.

“He has talent, but we shouldn’t be getting too excited just yet because he has a lot to improve on,” said Hiddink. “His physicality is not there yet, and some of the things in his technique. He needs work, and to be in the right environment, to keep pushing and keep developing the right way,” he added.