LAWRENCE SHANKLAND insists Hearts fans must be patient with Garang Kuol.
The Australian international was branded a wonderkid when he joined the Jambos on loan shortly after signing for Newcastle last month.
Lawrence Shankland Hearts during Rangers clash[/caption]But the 18-year-old was hauled off at half-time following a frustrating first start in the 3-0 thumping by Rangers.
Asked about Kuol, skipper Shankland said: “It’s a tough gig. He is a young kid and people need to give him time.
“He’s only 18 and it’s hard when young players get this wonderkid tag because it travels with them.
“It can hamper them as the expectation grows so high.
“Garang is playing at a big club and there will be learning curves for him but I’m sure he will do well. People just need to let him play, he’s a kid.”
Kuol looked lost at times in those opening 45 minutes as Gers totally dominated.
Asked if that experience will be more of a learning curve for the youngster than helping steamroll smaller teams, Shanks added: “I know what I’d rather be doing.
“It was a tough night for a kid coming to a new league. The football is different and he needs to be given time to develop.
“There’s a massive difference between Under-23s football and first team football for Hearts.
“If you look at his career, I don’t think he has played that much first team football.
“Garang looks good in training and he has talent. He has not got the wonderkid label for no reason.
“The talent just needs to be nurtured to make him a first- team player and I’m sure it will be.
“It’s experience too. Everybody needs to get it and along the way you make mistakes.
“I made plenty myself at that age and older. That’s why I’m 27 with grey hair!”
Defeat at Tynecastle saw the third-placed Jambos’ ten-game unbeaten run come to a juddering halt.
They now sit 19 points behind Rangers in second, but the gap on the pitch was a chasm.
Shankland said: “We know as players we need to improve. Do we need to take that final step against the Old Firm? Of course. That’s why they are the big two in the league.
“They get that name because they do what they do year in, year out. If we want to be up there with them those are the games we need to try to win, especially at home.
“It was disappointing, the belief is there but I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance.
“Going into the game I said we were looking forward to it and confident. It very quickly turned when we clearly weren’t playing at our best.
“If you are going to have any chance against the Old Firm you need to be at your best. If you’re not then nine times out of ten you see what happens.
“Overall our play was nowhere near good enough to get anything.
“A lot of Rangers attacks came from us being slack and giving them opportunities.
“We got ourselves into trouble a few times by being poor in possession and giving the ball away.”
Boos rang out around Tynecastle at half-time.
Ahead of tomorrow’s visit from Shankland’s former side Dundee United, he added: “The fans are entitled to react. Football is a fickle game. We’ve been in it long enough to know that.
“The supporters pay their money wanting to be entertained. I’ve no gripes with it.
“We’ve been on a good run and some people may see it as harsh if we’re booed, but as players we understand that.”
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