Laszlo: Karipidis can win cap if he stays with Hearts

ANTHONY BROWN
HEARTS manager Csaba Laszlo has urged Christos Karipidis to stay with Hearts, so he can be moulded into a Greek internationalist.
The in-form 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the current season and, as yet, there have been no discussions about a new deal.

Karipidis has been an outstanding performer since being converted from centre-back to midfield anchorman, or number six as Laszlo calls it, by the Hearts boss at the start of the season. And Laszlo is in no doubt he wants to retain the services of a player who has already been recommended to Greek national team bosses by former Tynecastle team-mate Takis Fyssas, now technical director to Greece coach Otto Rehhagel.

"Number six is a great position for Karipidis," said Laszlo. "He was sceptical when I first asked him to play in midfield but I saw his strengths and decided this is his strongest position.

"Karipidis is one of our most intelligent players. He has confidence and is a good header of the ball.

"One against one, he is very strong. He knows when to tackle and when not to. He must stay for another year because, if he does, he can play in the Greek national team.

"He is growing all the time and is a leader. We can make him one of the best number sixes."

Taken from the Scotsman