Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is now set to run the rule over Garang Kuol upon his return from a disappointing loan transfer with Hearts.
That is according to Chronicle Live, which quotes Howe admitting that Kuol’s spell at Hearts has not gone ‘as we’d have hoped’ since joining in January.
Shola Ameobi sourced the 18-year-old’s temporary move to Tynecastle to help Kuol adapt to European football. But he has seldom featured for the Premiership outfit.
Kuol has endured a disappointing loan transfer with Hearts
Newcastle paid Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners £300k to sign Kuol back in January. But the Toon felt a loan spell in Scotland would him his development.
Yet the five-cap Australia winger has only played 198 minutes through eight appearances in Scotland. He has also only started once and has not featured since March 11.
Kuol has watched Hearts’ last five Premiership games as an unused substitute. Hearts also fired boss Robbie Neilson in April and named Steven Naismith as his successor.
Howe is set to run the rule over Kuol once back at Newcastle
Howe can still see some scope for Kuol’s loan transfer with Hearts being of some benefit to the Newcastle talent. But another loan move for next season is highly likely.
Chronicle Live quotes Howe as noting: “Sometimes, through a disappointing loan, you can actually respond and learn things about yourself which makes the loan really beneficial.
“So, I’d never look at it as a huge negative. But, of course, the loan probably hasn’t gone as we’d have hoped.”
Nonetheless, Howe intends to look at Kuol in pre-season training when the forward returns to Newcastle from his loan transfer.
Ameobi is also primed to try and find Kuol a suitable temporary transfer again in his role as Newcastle’s loan manager.
Kuol will surely want to secure regular playing time next season
Kuol will surely not want his difficult time at Hearts to affect his place in the Australia team, either. Graham Arnold awarded the forward his senior debut last September.
The teenager also scored his first goal for the Socceroos this March in their friendly against Ecuador. While Arnold was effusive with praise for his potential last September.
“It’s remarkable he’s not started a game in the A-League,” Australia coach Arnold told Fox Sports, via quotes by news.com.au, after facing New Zealand. “He’s a special talent. He nearly scored, he nearly set a goal up.
“I just wanted to give him the experience. He showed some quality when he came on, but this is just the first step for him.”
Kuol left Central Coast Mariners to join Newcastle in the January transfer window following 22 senior games. He also scored seven and assisted four goals but only started four times.
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