Hearts interim boss Steven Naismith has urged Garang Kuol to remain patient despite a difficult first loan spell for the Newcastle United signing. The former A-League wonderkid has struggled to make an impact in the Scottish Premiership, with the teenage forward making just a solitary start since swapping Tyneside for Tynecastle in January.
Kuol became the youngest player to feature in a World Cup knockout fixture since Pele when he was introduced as a substitute in Australia's second-round exit to eventual winners Argentina in December. Newcastle fielded a host of loan enquiries for the 18-year-old, and the player himself was convinced to make the move north of the border.
However, Kuol's only start so far for Hearts came in an unfamiliar midfield role, and the Magpies' prospect is yet to open his account for his current club. It has not been the start either Newcastle or the player would have wanted, and Naismith admits the 'tough' circumstances at Hearts have not helped the loanee.
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Hearts parted ways with Robbie Neilson at the beginning of April after a run of five straight defeats in all competitions. Kuol has not featured since, but Naismith is full of praise for the teenager, hailing his 'brilliant' character and for being the 'last off' the training pitch.
Naismith told the Athletic: “I don’t think there needs to be a demand on him to play loads of games at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, next season I would expect him to play a few more minutes than he has and he needs to do that — but it doesn’t need to be a regular start every week because he is a young player.
“He’s going to have dips in form — he just needs to ride those waves. There can’t be a push saying ‘He needs to be in the first-team.’ That’ll come, and the more he’ll play, the more he’ll gain confidence, and the more he’ll be successful.”
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