HEARTS midfielder Laryea Kingston insists he's happy to stay at the club and see out the remaining year of his contract.
The Ghana international is now the highest-paid player at Tynecastle following the departure of Bruno Aguiar, earning nearly treble the £3,000 maximum weekly wage that's being put in place for any of Csaba Laszlo's new summer signings.
Privately,
Hearts are thought to be keen to sell the 28-year-old before the transfer window closes at the end of August to reduce their wage bill, but Kingston's recent injury problems – he's managed just 80 minutes of action since the end of January – have prevented him showcasing his talents in the shop window.
Therefore the player, who insists he's fully fit again after hamstring problems, says he's ready to give his all during what could be his final 12 months at Tynecastle. He said: "I have one season to play for Hearts and hope to feature week in and week out without any injuries. My family is settled and I'm also happy with the contract that I have.
"Before the winter break I had numerous offers from other clubs but could do little about them since I got injured prior to the transfer deadline. So now I want to concentrate on helping this team win trophies and hopefully at the end of the season we'll see what happens.
"The 2008/09 season was the worst in my career as a professional footballer as I was plagued with a number of injuries. It has been frustrating against the backdrop that I started the season very well compared with the previous one. It was a season I had pencilled in to get onto the scoring charts more often since I got nine goals in the previous campaign. I had it in mind to score at least ten, especially after getting three goals in eight games during the early stages of the season. But unfortunately I got injured and that saw me miss most of the second half of the campaign.
"The manager really missed me though it's really difficult to measure my absence. I guess the look on his face summed it up. He told me his wish of having me free from injury for a whole season. It was clear that he had been saddened with me being on the sidelines."
Csaba Laszlo is well aware of the need to strengthen his squad following the departures of Robbie Neilson, Christos Karipidis and Aguiar, but Kingston believes the quality of youngsters coming through the ranks at the Riccarton Academy means the future is bright for Hearts.
"I think next season is going to be difficult for us because we have lost two or three of our key players whom we are yet to replace. However, despite the financial constraints the club is facing, the coach has built a young good team with incredible potential. I believe we will be ready for the challenge. I hope to have an injury-free period next season but being able to guarantee my place in the team depends on me being fit at all times, though I always bring something different to the team."
It's likely Kingston, should he remain at Tynecastle, will be earmarked to play on the right-hand side of midfield – the position he plays for Ghana – with Ruben Palazuelos, Michael Stewart and new signing Ian Black all competing for roles in the centre of midfield.
An injury-free season with Hearts would not only put him back in the shop window when his contract expires in twelve months time but it would also set him up nicely for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Ghana could secure qualification in September if they beat Sudan and Mali draw with Benin in African Group E, and Kingston's appearance at a major championship would soften the blow of missing the 2006 World Cup through suspension.
"It would be quite important to me from a personal perspective because prior to Germany 2006 I did everything to see the team qualify but it really hurt not being there to participate in such an amazing tournament."
The full article contains 702 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
