African Nations duty threatens peace pact for Kingston at Hearts

Published Date: 19 October 2009
SURELY a post with the United Nations is the obvious career path for Csaba Laszlo given the international diplomacy the Romania-born Hungarian has to contend with as Hearts manager.
Keeping Lithuania-based Russian owner Vladimir Romanov happy is an achievement in itself of course but Scotland's prospects of ever qualifying for a major tournament again seem suddenly to hinge on whether winger Andrew Driver defects from England.
George Burley's new assistant, Paul Hegarty, was at Pittodrie to further fuel speculation that an invite was in the offing and the England under-21 cap responded in style. His wonderfully clinical finish earned Hearts a point and if Uganda international David Obua had not steered Driver's cross wide of an open goal from six yards late on then they would have secured their first away league win since February.

Naturally Laszlo's concern is the domestic scene and, tactfully, he said: "I'm trying to influence Andrew's performances on the pitch to make him a player of international standard but which country he chooses is not for me to interfere in. If he gets an invitation to play for one of the countries then it is up to him to decide and explain why. Until then every game he plays well in and every goal he scores helps his case to play at a higher level."

Ironically it was Driver's link up with Laryea Kingston that produced Obua's opportunity as Kingston's own very public "club versus country" dilemma looks like taxing Laszlo for some time yet, despite recent reconciliation. The short run out as a substitute at Pittodrie was the midfielder's first appearance of the season for a team that he has played a combined total of just 68 minutes for since February.

During 23 of those minutes against Aberdeen we got a glimpse of why Kingston could be crucial to drastically improving Hearts' winning ratio if his hamstring problems are in the past. Kingston certainly seems keen to consign his fallout with Laszlo to the past after a reputed £40,000 fine for ignoring instructions by playing for Ghana. He took part in the win against Sudan in early September that clinched his country's place in next summer's World Cup Finals in South Africa.

However it is the African Cup of Nations, set for Angola in January, that threatens the peace that has broken out between Kingston and Laszlo.

There's no doubt the player would be desperate to go – and entitled to, under Fifa regulations – as an altercation with Senegal's Habib Beye in the competition in Egypt four years ago led to a ban that prevented Kingston's participation in the 2006 World Cup.

He admits: "I haven't spoken with the manager about the possibility of playing in the African Nations Cup. I'll have to talk to him if I am chosen and see his point of view. If I have a call-up, I will be away for five to six weeks.

"But I have nothing against the club. People got it wrong. I didn't say I was choosing my country over Hearts. I respect the club. They pay my wages and I can't go against them.The fine was a big one for me but I accept this is the club's decision.

"I made a mistake and they weren't happy about it and I went against their code of conduct and they had every right to fine me. I am happy here, especially at how well the fans have received me and my family is also happy here."

Hearts collectively looked happier after Christian Nade replaced a witless David Witteveen and Kingston took over from a rather subdued Suso Santana. Nade's strength on the turn got the better of Andrew Considine to create the opening for Driver's second goal of the season in 62 minutes and the visitors finished with a flourish.

Ismael Bouzid was twice denied by Jamie Langfield while Richard Foster hacked a Jose Goncalves shot off the line in a hectic finale of Hearts dominance. That was a riposte to an impressive attacking flurry from Aberdeen after Lee Miller had headed home his first goal of the season just before the interval.

In addition to Driver there was plenty of good young talent qualified to play for Scotland for Hegarty to admire in a surprisingly open game. Hearts' teenage full-back Craig Thomson's confidence and set-piece delivery looks like keeping Eggert Jonsson sidelined for a while yet while Aberdeen boasted exciting young talent like Peter Pawlett and Fraser Fyvie.

The former, who unfortunately gave way to a hamstring injury in the second half, is subject to the same nationality rule as Driver while 16-year-old Fyvie looks destined for big things. He only left school a few months ago but has the touch, physique and confidence way beyond his years with only a goal-line clearance from Obua denying him a goal in the second half.

Pawlett and Michael Paton sliced open the Hearts defence in 42 minutes with Miller taking advantage of Janos Balogh's parry to head Aberdeen in front.

It is now seven games without defeat in the league for their manager, Mark McGhee, who is reasonably pleased with the work in progress four months into the job.

He said: "I think it would have been a total injustice if we had lost the game never mind how I feel about a draw. However it's the closest to what I would like us to be this season in terms of the shape of the team so that's a real step forward."

McGhee also intends to strengthen his squad with the addition of former Rangers full-back Maurice Ross, currently a free agent, on a short-term contract this week.

Taken from the Scotsman