Brighton are very pleased to have Kazenga LuaLua play for them through early January,  and it seems like Newcastle are also happy to have him go and get some first team games under his belt.

Kazenga LuaLua – on loan through early January at Brighton

Kazenga told the Evening Chronicle today:

“I think people know that wherever I play, I try my best.”    “The Carling Cup games are good at Newcastle because Chris Hughton gives the younger lads like me a chance to show what we can do.”

“But I was at Brighton last season and I enjoyed it.” “I have to say my priority is at Newcastle United, though. I love playing for Newcastle and pulling on the black-and- white shirt.”

“When you get the chance to play in front of 50,000 people it’s amazing.” “I’ve been here since I was a young lad and I love the club.”   “I don’t have any problems with anybody here, and if I can go on and play for Newcastle in the future it will be a dream come true for me.”

“The Carling Cup is a great competition to play in and all of the young lads enjoyed it in the last round.” “It gives you a taste of first-team action and you can pick up a lot of experience.”

LuaLua, the younger brother of Lomana, still has three years left on his Newcastle contract, and the lad doesn’t turn 20 until December, so he has plenty of time to fully mature and develop at the Newcastle club.

And that seems to be the main reason why manager Chris Hughton was happy to let the youngster head south again,  to get some games in for League One club, Brighton and Hove Albion through early January.

Hughton said today:

“What we decided was that it was better to send Kaz out on loan.” “Brighton badly wanted him to play for them after last season.” “We really did think about keeping him here because he did so well in the Carling Cup.” “But we have to get the balance right.”

“He’s a lad who has developed really well and you want to keep him.” “We had to make a decision on whether to let him out on loan or not and we got that right, I think.”

“We came to a decision between ourselves and Kaz. It’s not so much a case of him not wanting to play in the Reserves.”
“But he can play regular football there and, as I say, Brighton wanted him badly enough so we knew that’s what he’ll get.

“He can develop even more between now and January and we’ll take it from there.”

We had our doubts about Kazenga last season a bit, but he seems to be improving all the time, and certainly his Man of the Match display against Accrington Stanley made believers out of some of  us. He looked a great prospect in that game and was really buzzing.

LuaLua has so far appeared 13 times for Newcastle and played 11 times fro Brighton on loan last season, but has yet to score a goal in senior football.

Brighton’s next game is next Saturday at MK Dons, and we’ll follow that game to see how the youngster does – maybe he can get his first goal in that game.

LuaLua is still a young kid and has plenty of time in front of him, and he can develop into an excellent winger for the Newcastle club, with due help from Brighton and Hove Albion and with the skilled coaching and mentoring of Chris Hughton.

That’s what we’re hoping for.

Comments welcome.