Reading are set to miss out on Newcastle United winger Garang Kuol, with the Australian choosing Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts, according to reports.

The 18-year-old signed a pre-contract agreement with the North-East giants in September, linking up with the Tyneside outfit this month.

Fresh from scoring twice, and gaining three assists, for Central Coast Mariners in the Australian A-League, Eddie Howe revealed that he wants the teenager to gain more experience.

Not only catching the eye at club level, he featured three times for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the youngster player in the knockout match since Pele in 1958.

According to journalists Fabrizio Romano and Craig Hope, the winger has decided to link up with Robbie Neilson at Tynecastle in Edinburgh until the end of the current campaign.

Currently third in the table, Hearts are three points clear of Aberdeen in fourth but 17 behind Rangers.