After Newcastle United's second string were beaten 5-0 by Chelsea, the performance of Seung-soo Park proved to be a positive
Seung-Soo Park of Newcastle United
Seung-Soo Park of Newcastle(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
Newcastle United's South Korean teenage star Seung-soo Park's adventure in English football continued in front of a crowd of just 448 fans at Whitley Park last night.
The 18-year-old has been on something of a roller-coaster after arriving from K-League second flight outfit Suwon Samsung Bluewings this summer has lit up his old club's World Cup Stadium with an eye catching debut last month, been part of Son Heung-min's big night in Seoul for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur and made his home debut in front of a decent crowd at St James' Park against Espanyol.
Only last Saturday at Aston Villa he was named on the bench where he watched the glamour of a big Premier League occasion play out at Villa Park.
On Friday it was a slightly more down to earth feel for Park but he was agonisingly just inches away from his first goal in the English game when a header flashed wide.
There were other moments too when he beat his man down the left flank but nobody connected. In the second half he cut inside and got past his marker again before dinking in a teasing cross which nobody read.
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So last night a 5-0 home defeat against Chelsea's second string in Premier League 2 sounds like a much more sobering experience, but those little signs may be adding up to something bigger further down the line.
He was watched every step of the way by head of recruitment Steve Nickson, fundamental in his arrival from the Far East, and head of football strategy Jack Ross, who stood alongside Academy manager Steve Harper near the stand.
Nights like Friday are all part of the learning curve for the teenager with 73 hard fought minutes drawing some applause from the loyal second string fans.
Park looked down as his number came up and he was withdrawn, his 11 shirt pressing against the plastic dugout, before he went back on to the pitch at the end to shake hands with Chelsea's impressive reserve team.
Unable to conduct interviews at the moment Park headed home after a tough defeat but his coach Robbie Stockdale, the former Middlesbrough and Scotland star, was pleased with his effort levels and contributions.
Stockdale agreed that there was a little buzz in the crowd whenever the teenager got on the ball and told Chronicle Live: "Seung-soo is a really good player. I agree (there was a buzz).
Seung-Soo Park during the Premier League 2 match between Newcastle United U21 and Chelsea U21
Seung-Soo Park during the Premier League 2 match between Newcastle United U21 and Chelsea
"I feel a little bit for Seung-soo, it must be difficult for him, his English isn't great yet and my Korean is not up to scratch either.
"So to get messages to him is not easy, and we have to take that into account.
"A 2-0, we had a great chance with Seung-soo's header, and those moments you have to take them, at 2-1 it suddenly looks like a different game.
"It's a steep learning curve for all the players and that's what U21s football is."
Dujuan Richards had put Chelsea ahead on 16 minutes before Jesse Derry doubled the Blues' lead eight minutes before the break after weaving his way into the box.
Further goals in the second half came from Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (69), Shumaira Mheuka (74) and a stunning free-kick from Harrison Murray-Campbell beating Adam Harrison to make it 5-0.
Stockdale said: "It was a 5-0 game, but it shouldn't have been. There are bits where we can do better and at the top of the end of the pitch we should be scoring a couple more.
"The frustrattion in the last two games has been we should have scored more than we have, that is the learning curve.
"If you don't get it right against top level opposition they are going to hurt you.
"If you are going to have a career at the top level, which we all hope the players do, we have to learn quickly that those moments (in front of goal) must be taken and we have to do better than stopping the ball go in your goal.
"You always learn more from a defeat that is a given. On the back of a 5-0 you learn a hell of a lot."