My Jambos will never look back, says Csaba

COLLEEN PATERSON
HEARTS boss Csaba Laszlo insisted today his side must put the drama over Larry Kingston's absence to one side – and focus instead on winning more points in the coming weeks.
Prior to today's clash against Falkirk at Tynecastle, the Hungarian had seen his side take nine points from their last three league games but stressed that they can take nothing for granted in their forthcoming SPL fixtures.

Their task will be made even harder by the likely absence of Kingston, who jetted out to be with the Ghana squad in midweek despite a thigh injury, and Laszlo knows his star may be sidelined for even longer by the rigours of the lengthy trip. The Jambos face Rangers next week and Laszlo maintained that, with the SPL table so tight right now, his side cannot afford to live on previous successes.

He said: "What is in the past is in the past.

"Yes, it was good for us to win those three matches but we have to remain focused and to keep doing the things that we are good at.

"I don't think about the last few games, now all I want is to play some better football at Tynecastle.

"I don't mind if we go out and only win by one goal.

"I don't like to lose, I don't think anyone likes to lose.

"But the most important thing for us is to go out there and to make sure that the confidence we have gained keeps going. We know though that we will have to work very hard."

The task of securing further wins will be made all the tougher by the fact that Laszlo is having to reshuffle his midfield.

As well as the absence of Kingston, Michael Stewart has now started a two-match ban.

But Christos Karipidis, who missed training with flu earlier this week, was expected be fully recovered from the virus in time for today's kick-off.

There was also good news for the Hearts manager as the club discovered that Saulius Mikoliunas does not require surgery on his injured knee.

The Lithuanian suffered the injury in the recent match against St Mirren and there were fears that he would have to go under the knife to repair damaged ligaments.

However Laszlo revealed: "Miko is in a brace at the moment and still in some pain but he doesn't need an operation so that is good news for both him and the club.

"The medical team will assess him in three or four weeks and we will see how he is at that stage.

"It is too early for us to be talking about when he might be available again."

Marius Zaliukas has played a key role for Hearts in recent weeks, but the Lithuanian admitted that he was concerned his red card against Celtic earlier in the season might have cost him his place in the side, albeit temporarily.

The defender was sent off against the Parkhead side at the beginning of this month, a match that they lost 2-0, and his replacement while he was serving a one-game ban – Eggert Jonsson– scored the only goal of the game the following week in the victory over St Mirren.

Zaliukas said: "I was worried because we have a lot of good players but I was out for just the one game when I was suspended and then back in the side for the next game.

"In the game that I missed, Eggert Jonsson scored the goal but I have not played too badly this season, I have enjoyed being involved and I hope that I continue to play.

"It is nice that the manager has shown confidence in me."

Having lost to Falkirk already this season, Zaliukas was determined to put the record straight against the Bairns this time around: "We have worked hard and we know we have to score one goal more than the opposition and to keep a clean sheet at the other end, this is what we want to do.

"But every game is difficult in this league."

Taken from the Scotsman