The Shepparton round-ball revelation has been tearing it up for the English Premier League giant’s under-21 side, but after his season concluded on Monday, the electric young talent is seeking pastures new.
Kuol, 20, has thrived having strung consistent minutes together on Tyneside.
But with a little over a year left on his deal, the Goulburn Valley Suns graduate is being pragmatic about his future at Newcastle United.
“The most important thing for me is to be able to play (senior) football... it won't be that easy to jump from the under-21s at Newcastle to a first team squad which could be in the Champions League,” he told ESPN.
“For the summer, I'm not really sure what's going to happen in terms of my next move... but I'd say (senior) football is the ultimate goal.”
Kuol signed a four-year deal at the Magpies in 2022, but his progress was hampered during adverse loan spells in Scotland and the Netherlands early into his contract.
Upon return to Newcastle, Kuol was further hamstrung as he suffered a pre-season injury that eventually landed the flashy winger in the under-21s.
Was it a bad thing? At first, maybe yes.
But after Kuol’s impressive showing in the Premier League Two, racking up five goals and four assists from just 10 games, the bright spark views the experience in a different light.
“It's probably a blessing in disguise (the pre-season injury),” he said.
“I've been able to graft and work on things I need to work on as a player — my physical shape, my fitness.”
“In the past couple months, I’ve played probably the most 90 minutes I have played in my whole career, back-to-back consecutive games, which is what any young player needs. I haven't had that in literally my whole professional career.
“Now I'm able to run up and down for 90 minutes every week... I think I played less than five 90-minute matches from 17 until 20 years old.
“It's crazy because that's what young players need the most: minutes and full games.”
Though Kuol has had first-team training experience at Newcastle United, the odds of him breaking into the Premier League squad aren’t in his favour.
There is plenty of prestige attached to being on a club’s roster with a reputation as huge as Newcastle’s, but for Shepparton’s premier football export, there is another dream that needs reviving.
Many remember his moment during the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match.
Australia versus Argentina.
Kuol’s late chance.
Almost ecstasy.
He knows his biggest opportunity to don the green and gold again is to play regular, senior football, and Kuol’s next move will be enormous in the grand scheme of his future.
“To represent Australia is a big honour. But at the same time, I understand that I need to be performing at a high level to be in contention to do that,” he said.
“I think what I do in the summer will be crucial in terms of finding a first team to play at so I can be in contention to play for the Socceroos.”
