Welcome to the second of the Get to Know Your Futures series. We're looking at the up-and-comers in the Newcastle United organization, so if you have a favorite make sure we know so that we can do our homework on him. If you're checking out the series for the first time be sure to drop by the segments that have already been posted.
Get to Know Your Futures
Make the jump and we'll get to know the striker Kazenga LuaLua.
Football Bio
Kazenga was born on December 10, 1990 in Kinshasa (the capitol city of The Congo), but grew up in Newcastle where his elder, and just as colorfully named brother Lomana, had signed to play football. Kaz has spent his entire professional career in the NUFC Youth System, where he has played some, and been loaned out a bit as well. He spent 2009 with the Doncaster Rovers and most of 2010 and 2011 on the southern coast at Brighton and Hove Albion. His four months at BHA this season saw him scoring 4 goals in 11 appearances and winning Young Player of the Month for October before breaking his leg in November.
Scouting Report
If Kaz is know for anything it's his well above average pace. It is not deceptive pace, the lad is both fast and quick. His second biggest asset is creativity away from the ball. He makes very smart decisions about where and when to run. With the ball on his feet I can draw a few criticisms though. He tries too hard to make things happen when he has possession, with time I believe his handling skills will catch up with whatever it is he sees in his mind's eye, but until then I have to knock him down a peg for it. He is also likely to shoot a bad shot rather than hold for a better one or pass off to a teammate. This isn't always bad in a striker, but until his nose for the goal is a little better he'll just be forcing bad shots. Another part of his game worth mentioning is the Free Kick, he has good power and can shape a shot pretty well. We're not talking bend it like Beckham skills, but he might be as good as Ryan Taylor is.
How Close is He
If I had my druthers I'd have him at Brighton for another season playing first team football for the team he helped to Championship Promotion. I think this is very likely as he still has some obvious development to undergo. I highly doubt that he'll be a common sight on the first team, but he may have done enough to hang around with the reserves. I look for him to have his real first season with the big club in 2013.