No Ghana call, but Kingston to miss derby

Published on Thursday 5 November 2009 21:59

A POTENTIAL fall-out between Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo and midfielder Laryea Kingston has been averted after the injured midfielder was omitted from the latest Ghana squad.

Kingston, who has suffered a recurrence of a persistent hamstring problem and has been ruled out of tomorrow's derby clash with Hibs, has not been called upon for tomorrow week's final World Cup qualifier against Mali and a friendly with Angola three days later.

Laszlo launched a stinging attack on Kingston after the playmaker featured for his country in games against Sudan and Japan in September, even though the 28-year-old was deemed not fit enough to play at club level. Kingston was also fined four weeks' wages after clashing with his club manager on the team bus after the 2-2 draw at St Johnstone in August.

The former Lokomotiv Moscow player picked up his hamstring injury in training just days after making his first appearance of the season as a substitute in October's draw at Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, the former Hearts defender Alan McLaren believes Tynecastle captain Michael Stewart is a potentially influential figure for his younger colleagues in tomorrow's derby clash.

"The atmosphere will get their blood going," added McLaren. "The tackles will be more fierce, but you have to try to compose yourself and play the game the manager wants.

"You have to try and channel your enthusiasm. There should be enough experience within the dressing-room to try and pass on some advice.

"Michael Stewart has played for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world. He can try to tell the boys to keep a lid on the emotions and channel the adrenaline in the right way."