Patience will pay off as Park finds his feet

INSIDER'S VERDICT HINTS AT PREMIER LEAGUE DEBUT

- By LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle writer

PARK Seung-soo is capable of growing into the role of becoming a full fledged Premier League star but patience must be the watchword for the South Korean youngster as he begins his education on Tyneside.

Or at least that is the view of top South Korean football reporter Daeeun Ju, who has watched the 18-year-old rise through the ranks at Suwon Samsung Bluewings before winning a dream move to the English topflight.

When Park arrived at St James' Park this summer the Magpies actually played down his status by insisting he would go straight into the Under-21s, while a loan move was also mooted.

But even head coach Eddie Howe admitted after a few days of preseason training in Singapore and South Korea that his presence and ability to cope with the physicality of senior squad life had made him think again.

The 18-year-old was even named on the bench for last weekend's opener against Aston Villa without getting on the pitch for the 0-0 draw.

Park made his Premier League 2 debut on Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Southampton with the left-winger playing 70 minutes.

Daeeun, who reports for FourFourTwo in South Korea, told The Chronicle: “Park is still physically developing, so he'll need time to grow in that area.