HEARTS head coach Csaba Laszlo has insisted there should be no question marks over Laryea Kingston's commitment to the Tynecastle outfit, even though the injured player will not return from midweek international duty until Monday.
The midfielder went against his manager's wishes by returning home to Ghana this week for his country's friendly with Tunisia, despite being ruled out of the match with a thigh strain which has kept him sidelined for the past month.
Having lost Da
vid Obua to injury during the Ugandan's marathon trip home earlier in the season, Laszlo was keen for Kingston to remain in Edinburgh to receive treatment on the injury, which has so far confounded the club's medical staff.
However, the 28-year-old flew home to Accra, claiming in one interview that he did so because of a fear his family would be subjected to abuse from volatile Black Stars supporters who did not believe he was injured.
Kingston had indicated that, after being checked out by Ghana's own doctors, he would make the return leg of his 8,000-mile round trip back to Scotland even before the start of Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Tunisia.
Yet, despite the former Lokomotiv Moscow player not now being expected back in the capital until Monday, Laszlo has denied suggestions of a rift with a player.
"For me, I don't have any bad relationship with Laryea, I protect him and my players always," said the former Uganda national coach. "I said I had an understanding if he went, but I told him it is unprofessional against your body. That is my opinion.
"But if Laryea is back and he trains and is injury-free, then he will play because he is a very important player. We don't have any problems with him, he will be back on Monday.
"I was two times national coach and I know what is going on in the international team, so I did not want to make big trouble.
"I know the African mentality and I am not worried that he has gone home. I am more worried about his injury. If you stay two or three days without treatment and you are sitting on an aeroplane then you lose two or three days."
Kingston will be joined by the suspended Michael Stewart in missing today's encounter with Falkirk as Hearts seek a fourth consecutive victory
and, if possible, an improved performance after three stuffy 1-0 wins.
"For me at the moment the most important thing is to play a little bit better football at Tynecastle," added Laszlo. "I am not worried if we win 1-0. If you win the game, after you can talk about the game.
"We want to keep our position in the table and we can only do that if we win the game and get the three points. The rest is blah, blah, blah."
The full article contains 490 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
