“It’s ultimately a dog-eat-dog world”: Garang Kuol on life at Newcastle United following difficult loan spells and long-term lay-offs
The young Australian forward revealed how he is working hard to unleash his full potential this season as he rediscovers his fitness.
As a teenager, Garang Kuol was thrust into the spotlight when it was announced he had signed a contract with Newcastle United, during the 2022/23 season. Add to that sharing a pitch with Lionel Messi in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as Argentina narrowly edged past Australia en route to their third triumph in the tournament.
With such a reputation, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Kuol was shaping up to be something of a phenomenon, and yet, just over two years later, he stood in one of the 18-yard boxes at the Gateshead International Stadium, preparing to take a penalty for Newcastle’s under 21s.
The penalty was dispatched hard and low into the bottom corner, as if Kuol was unleashing his full frustration of difficult loan spells and long-term injuries onto the ball. The young Magpies he was representing were taking on neighbours Gateshead in the National League Cup - a competition in its inaugural season. Newcastle would win by four goals to two, and seal their spot in the knockout stages.
“I find it very beneficial”, Kuol made clear after the final whistle, in reference to the National League Cup.
“You can see the level, and maybe a team in the National League aren’t as good as higher-up teams, but at least you get that experience of playing against big men, physically strong people, and ultimately just build from it.”
Kuol suffered a quad injury at the start of the campaign, preventing him from leaving the North East for another loan move , with the aim of playing regular first team football.
“It has been a long period without playing much”, Kuol outlined.
“Behind the scenes I’ve been working really hard in training. As I’m slowly coming back into matchday rhythm, I want to keep building that fitness to be able to keep running forward.”
“[I’ve played] back-to-back 90-minute matches in the space of five, six days. I don’t think I’ve done that for a very long time, so I think it shows you where I’m at physically.”
Whilst on the sidelines, Kuol revealed how he has got to experience more of the city of Newcastle. As a young man thousands of miles from where he grew up, the region he finds himself in has been welcoming and friendly.
“I enjoy the somewhat quiet city, and going to the games as well is very enjoyable, seeing the team play. Just going to training every day, I’m very happy.”
It would have been easy for Kuol to not be satisfied, though. Loan spells at Scottish side Hearts and Dutch outfit Volendam did not bring riches of success for the Australian, with many questioning whether he was indeed cut out for European football.
“It’s ultimately a dog-eat-dog world”, Kuol revealed.
“The big difference is the competitiveness. There’s a lot more on the line.”
“When I first came [I was] on loan, straight to Hearts. It was a period full of learning, and people would say it was a bad spell for me, but I think I was able to learn from it, and take a lot of things out of it. Then I went to the Netherlands, again on loan. I feel like it was very good for me as well, especially the first half of the season when I was playing consistently, and training consistently under the coaches that brought me in.”
Now back at Newcastle and playing regularly in the under 21s side, Kuol was asked whether another loan would be something he was open to, to once again attempt to develop his abilities as a player in first team football.
“Generally speaking, I feel like I’m in a happy place right now”, Kuol answered.
“I’d say a big shout-out to the coaching staff here, in and around the 21s. They’ve been giving me a lot of confidence in training. I can feel myself getting fitter and more consistent every day.”
Luckily for the young Australian, he has time on his side. At only 20 years of age, he still has time to develop further before making a full jump either into Newcastle United’s first team, or to move on to pastures new on a permanent basis.
Some will argue that his time at Newcastle to date has not been overly successful, and whilst that may be, his recent displays against Southampton’s under 21s and Gateshead demonstrated the player Newcastle hoped they were signing. Ultimately, it remains up to Kuol to deliver on and off the pitch in the coming weeks and months.
“I think [I need to] just keep playing games, keep helping the team, and keep training well every day. If you're training every day consistently and training well, it builds confidence and it makes you more eager to come into training every day with a smile on your face and willingness to work hard.”