Garang Kuol admits he is "buzzing" with excitement ahead of joining Newcastle United and wants nothing more than to secure a win for Central Coast in his final A-League Men match.
The 18-year-old is on his way to St James' Park in a matter of days to link with the Premier League club.
"I am buzzing. I can't wait to get down there and hit the ground running," Kuol said.
First up he will be farewelled in the Mariners' home clash with Melbourne Victory on New Year's Eve.
"My focus stays the same," he said of his approach to his last ALM game.
"There's a lot of excitement. We go in with full belief and all guns blazing to try and get three points and a win."
Kuol's rise has been one of the great stories of Australian soccer. When he came on as a substitute in the Socceroos' round-of-16 clash with Argentina at the recent World Cup in Qatar, the Egyptian-born forward became the youngest player since Brazilian legend Pele in 1958 to play in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery said he hoped a big crowd turned out to farewell Kuol.
"For Australian football he's been a shining light and an inspiration ... that you can come from an NPL club in the middle of nowhere, play in the A-League and play in the World Cup," he said.
"Now he's going to have to take that pressure on his shoulders and go to one of the biggest Premier League clubs around.
"There's going to be pressure on him from now until he finishes his career and that's something we've tried to prepare him for. He's got a big journey ahead of him."
The Mariners are in fourth position on the ladder with 13 points and Victory are ninth on 10.
Montgomery said Kuol would do what he does best, whether he starts or comes off the bench against Victory.
"Knowing Garang he'll want to say goodbye with a goal, an assist or just a good performance," he said.
"It will be a good chance for everybody to wish Garang well for his move to Newcastle."
