Newcastle United forward Garang Kuol returned action with the U21s this weekend after picking up a knee injury early into pre-season this summer.
The Magpies will still be on a high from their incredible victory at St James’ Park over Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, and Eddie Howe will definitely feel a weight off his shoulders this week.
The 46-year-old manager had led his team to five games without a win ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Tyneside, but a hugely resilient and confident performance silenced doubters on his long-term future at the club.
An important and well-earned three points from the North Londoners over the weekend elevated Newcastle back into the top half of the Premier League table, and another victory in their upcoming clash with Nottingham Forest would be a huge statement in turning around the team’s poor form in recent weeks.
Injuries have hindered Howe’s opportunities to field his best starting eleven over the last 18 months, leading to missed opportunities to qualify for European football.
However, the Chelsea and Arsenal games were a clear indicator that the manager has more than a one-dimensional plan for his team and the squad depth, with Willock and Hall both putting in impactful performances in the last two fixtures.
Newcastle will now have another exciting prospect at their disposal, as forward Garang Kuol has returned to action after suffering a nasty knee injury in pre-season, and was seen taking part in the U21s’ 3-0 EFL Trophy defeat at Mansfield Town.
The 20-year-old took to Instagram over the weekend to express his delight at being back on the pitch with pictures of himself in the famous black and white shirt, alongside a short caption – “Good to be back on the pitch”.
What’s next for Garang Kuol at Newcastle?
There is no doubt that Kuol was an exciting prospect for Newcastle fans when he was announced as a new signing, however, he is yet to make his mark on Tyneside.
The Australian international, who starred for his national side in the 2022 World Cup, is yet to make his competitive first-team debut since joining from Central Coast Mariners in January 2023.
Two unsuccessful loan spells with Hearts and Volendam has left question marks over whether the 20-year-old has the ability to rise to the top and become a regular feature in the starting eleven at the North East outfit.
His talent and potential hasn’t gone unnoticed in his career so far, with former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez reserving high praise for the Newcastle forward, after he came off the bench in an A-Leagues All Stars match back in 2022:
“Dwight Yorke told me he was 16 or 17… it was a big surprise,” Xavi said.
“He was very fast and we conceded two or three chances because of him.
“He’s a great player and he has a great future, he is a talent that is obvious.”
With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Kuol will be given the opportunity to prove himself with the club or whether he will be shipped off on another loan for the second half of the campaign to build on his experience and ability before a decision is made on his future in the summer.
