Laszlo wary of wounded Caley threat to Hearts

BARRY ANDERSON
WHILE expressing his regret over Craig Brewster's sacking, Csaba Laszlo today warned Hearts of the dangers posed by Inverness Caledonian Thistle this weekend after their manager's exit.
Brewster was dismissed on Monday following a sequence of seven straight defeats which dragged Inverness to the bottom of the SPL table. The Highlanders are due at Tynecastle on Saturday to face in-form Hearts, but Laszlo is wary of the reaction his side will encounter.

Some top names have been linked with the vacancy, including World Cup winner Ossie Ardiles, Scotland assistant Terry Butcher and former Hearts and Caley boss John Robertson, and Laszlo believes that could give the Inverness players a boost ahead of this weekend's game.

"This game can be difficult because you never know the reaction from a team in this situation. We must be very careful," Laszlo said.

"Inverness are at the bottom of the league at the moment and everybody will wait for us to win the game with many goals, like they did against Hamilton earlier in the season. But I am just happy if we get three points and play well, then we can concentrate on the next game.

"I am so sorry for my colleague who was sacked. I am not happy if I read somewhere, especially in the league where I work, that a coach has lost his job. I wish him all the best and I think he will find another team very quickly.

"I think he did a good job. Inverness is not a team that will win you a league but I appreciate his work very well. This is football and I hope everything will be okay with him."

Larry Kingston has an outside chance of being fit for Saturday if he resumes training this week. Ruben Palazuelos is also doubtful with a knee problem. Lee Wallace returns but Marius Zaliukas will sit out the final game of his suspension.

"I hope later in the week Larry will begin normal training with the team. I can't tell you whether he will be ready for Saturday," said Laszlo.

"If a player is out for two or three weeks his fitness can be a problem. Slowly we can build him up to come back. The hamstring problem kept him out for a long period.

"He went to Ghana with the national team and he must be very careful now not to do anything wrong. He played at times with the injury and this made it difficult for him and for us. We need everybody, including Larry."

Meanwhile Hearts have produced a 64-page special tribute matchday programme for Tynecastle legend Alfie Conn, who died earlier this month.

The programme features tributes from former team-mates and players from the club's more recent history, including Dave Mackay, Freddie Glidden and John Robertson.

Alfie's family will attend this weekend's game and there will be a minute's silence before kick-off in his memory.

Taken from the Scotsman