Hearts boss sure Tullberg will return as good as new

CSABA LASZLO has predicted that Hearts medical staff will rehabilitate Mike Tullberg in the same way they restored Bruno Aguiar, Robbie Neilson and Christian Nade to full fitness.

The Danish forward is due to resume training by the end of this week after suffering a second ruptured thigh muscle prior to last month's Edinburgh derby. He has made just two appearances in maroon since completing a season-long loan deal from the Italian side Reggina during the summer.

Hearts' medical staff and physios have gradually helped Tullberg return to some basic fitness work and are taking him through a similar programme to that which aided the recoveries of Aguiar, Neilson and Nade. Laszlo told the Evening News he expects a full recovery from the player.

"The physios are working with him separately from the team," said the manager today. "They are trying to make him strong, the same way they helped Bruno, Robbie and Christian Nade come back. I don't see any problem with Mike's fitness, it will just take time.

"He will be training by the end of the week and maybe he will be fit against Rangers next Saturday. He is working with the physios but we cannot wait for him to be 100 per cent. The player is working well and the most important for him is to be injury-free.

"Once that happens we can help him to come back quickly."

Meanwhile, Larry Kingston has spoken out about the discord caused by his trip to Ghana for last night's international friendly against Tunisia, which ended in a goalless draw.

As revealed in Tuesday's Evening News, the midfielder upset Laszlo by making a 4000-mile journey for a game he cannot play in due to a leg injury. But Kingston said he had to prove to the Ghanaian FA that he was not lying about the problem, which causes him pain when passing the ball or shooting.

"I am not in Accra to play the game but I am here to prove my country's FA that I was not lying when I said I am injured," he said. "I am very sad that this has come out as if I have defied the club and the coach I respect so much just to be here.

"I had very good intentions for the good of my club and it is the reason why I came. I want to make it clear that I will not do anything to mar the good relationship I have with Mr Laszlo and the fans.

"Some people in Ghana think that when we foreign-based players say we are injured it might not be true, so I wanted to prove to them. Some fans of the national team who are also very passionate can even physically attack me or my family over this, that's why I am here to prove to everyone that I am injured.

"Last month, when I was invited for the friendly against South Africa, I pleaded with my the Ghana FA to leave me out because I would have returned on a Friday when my club had a game on Saturday. As the Ghana coach agreed to my request, when I continue missing the matches without giving any proof some might think I am being a truant.

"There is also a new national team coach for Ghana (Milovan Rajevac] and if I don't make any effort for him to see he might also have a different view of me.

"I will call coach Laszlo soon and have a chat with him and, having coached in Africa before, he will sympathise with me."