As Newcastle United made light work of Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Monday evening, the club’s under-21 side were enjoying an equally easy night themselves as they dispatched Reading’s youngsters 7-1 at St James’ Park.
Garang Kuol stole the show on Tyneside, helping himself to two goals and two assists in the rout as his fine form of late continues. The Australian, who has so far struggled since joining Newcastle, now has nine goal involvements in 10 Premier League 2 games this term.
Diarmuid O’Carroll’s side, as a whole, have also vastly improved. The young Magpies have won four on the spin since late February, subsequently qualifying for the PL2 play-offs with a game to spare.
Alfie Harrison was among the goals on Monday, along with right-back Leo Shahar – just days after his maiden first-team matchday call-up. Familiar faces such as Jay Turner-Cooke and Cathal Heffernan also impressed but it is Kuol continuing to steal the headlines at present.
The youngster has not had it easy since swapping New South Wales for Newcastle as a teenager. Now, aged 20 and in a dramatic u-turn, Kuol seems to be relishing regular game time at youth level as opposed to being frustratingly sidelined while out on loan.
Unsuccessful stints in Scotland and the Netherlands, at Hearts and FC Volendam respectively, caused concern that Kuol – who arrived to such fanfare in 2022 – may not have what it takes to play at this level. There was also talk of another loan exit in January just gone.
Instead, Newcastle now enter the business end of the campaign with the Aussie relishing his football, with Eddie Howe taking note of his upturn in form.
“I’m very happy to get that consistent game time, playing 90 minutes, and I really enjoy working with Diarmuid (O’Carroll) and the coaching staff here. I feel they have helped me a lot and I’m feeling positive,” Kuol told Newcastle’s official media channels in recent weeks.
“I’m always happy to score but, at the same time, I feel I should have more. That comes with consistently playing and being ambitious, going into every game with confidence.”
Kuol still has a way to go and will need to ensure this purple patch doesn’t turn out to be a flash in the pan. Instead, the forward must use this period to finally kick on at St James’ Park.
Kuol faces competition, however, with under-21 co-stars such as Ben Parkinson and Sean Neave enjoying more face time with Howe on senior matchdays in recent months. But one thing Kuol has ensured is that his fate in the north east is no longer an unfortunate, foregone conclusion.
Kuol may now have a part to play for the black and whites in the years to come, with Howe facing a decision whether to promote the attacker to his senior side – rather than loaning him out – when the next transfer period comes along.
