The Shepparton round ball sensation’s last appearance in green and gold came more than two years ago, when he scored his first international goal during a friendly against Ecuador on March 24, 2023.
One year earlier, he made global headlines as the youngest player to feature in a FIFA World Cup knockout match since Pelé.
It’s been a long drought for the 2022 FIFA World Cup star boy since then.
However, Kuol’s fortunes may be turning after Socceroos coach Tony Popovic weighed in on his recent performances.
He has been nominated for the Premier League Two April Player of the Month for his sizzling form for Newcastle United’s under-21s.
Kuol chimed in with two goals and two assists for the Magpies during a 7-1 assault on Reading towards the back end of the season, named alongside seven other players put forward by the Premier League Football Development Panel.
The winner will be announced later this week.
Newcastle’s Premier League Two side qualified for the play-offs, but was eliminated in the round of 16 by Arsenal — meaning Kuol’s focus turns to international football.
More specifically, getting back to playing it regularly.
The Socceroos’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers arrive in June against Japan and Saudi Arabia and, while he’s at long odds to earn a call-up next month, Kuol can certainly make an impression in the next 12 months to land a spot on the plane to the US, Canada and Mexico.
Popovic, who is currently at the helm of the Socceroos, recently spoke about Kuol’s form in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We're monitoring him. We've seen some of his games that have been visible recently in the under-21s. He just needs consistent football,” Popovic said.
“The level can sometimes be deceiving, of course. But for any striker, when they're scoring, they're confident.
“Regardless of the level, he's scoring goals and he seems to be a lot more confident in the field.
“When you see him in and around the box, you can see there's a clear focus and confidence about him when he's dribbling a player, which maybe we haven't seen for a while.”
Popovic also said Kuol’s best hope of a Socceroos return lie in securing consistent senior minutes — an unlikely circumstance at his current club.
With Kuol yet to debut for Newcastle’s senior side and the Magpies currently perched inside the Premier League top four, Popovic hinted a move away from Tyneside could be the best option for the 20-year-old.
“That also comes with match fitness, that he's playing more regularly, the body and the mind can handle 90 minutes of football," he said.
“It's an area of the park we're always looking at. We're always looking for someone to come through in that area that's scoring goals regularly, that's playing at a high level regularly.
“Hopefully this will help him get a move somewhere where he will then have the challenge of getting into a team where there’s points on the line and there’s constant pressure.”
Kuol’s contract at Newcastle United expires on June 30, 2026.
