Why 18yo star needs homecoming after ‘tough start’ in Scotland as Socceroos friendlies revealed

This month’s Socceroos camp in Sydney and Melbourne will provide teenage sensation Garang Kuol with some much-needed love after his “tough start” at Scottish club Hearts.

Australia will play matches against Ecuador at CommBank Stadium on March 24 and Marvel Stadium Stadium on March 28.

The “Welcome Home” series will be the Socceroos’ first matches since last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where under coach Graham Arnold, Australia reached the round of 16 before being knocked out by eventual champions Argentina.

Arnold intends to reward almost all of the Socceroos’ World Cup squad with selection for the two matches, giving them the chance to be properly acknowledged by Australian fans for their performance in Qatar.

The series is set to be just the tonic 18-year-old Kuol needs following his departure from the Central Coast Mariners in January.

Bought by English Premier League club Newcastle and subsequently loaned to Hearts, where he is yet to properly settle in.

Kuol has made just five appearances for his new club, with four of them off the bench.

“Garang, at this moment, I think it’s good for him to come back and be in camp. and be around the boys, and we pick up his energy a little bit,” Arnold said.

“He’s had a bit of a tough start at Hearts. The Scottish game, and the way that it’s played, is completely different to Australia, so it’s going to take a little bit of time for him to settle in with that and obviously learn that.

“I know the expectations of the kid are always very, very high, and going to Hearts I can imagine that was exactly the same, so it’s a learning process for Garang and making sure that he can deal with it and we can be here to help him deal with it.
“I could either let him go with the (Australian) under 23s, or bring him here with us, because the under 23s will have camp at the same time in Italy.

“For him to come back to us and again to be part of the Socceroos squad that did well at the World Cup, and give him one of the first chances, is important for him as well.”

While Kuol is yet to make an impression at Hearts, his Socceroos teammate Harry Souttar has made a good start to life in the English Premier League with Leicester City since his recent move from second-tier Stoke.

“It nearly brings a tear to you eye when you see him walk out, third in line all the time, captain, goalkeeper, and (then) there’s Harry Souttar walking out for Leicester City on to the stadium (pitch),” Arnold said.

“He’s such a wonderful person. Obviously he does great for us and it’s great to see him at Leicester.

“His start has been fantastic. (Leicester manager) Brendan Rodgers is very happy with Harry at this moment in time.

“He’s in a great space at the moment and I’ll be looking forward to seeing him again.”

Arnold revealed that Adelaide United goalkeeper Joe Gauci was in strong contention to be named in the Socceroos squad, which is set to be named on March 14.