I've won my fitness battle - now I want success at Hearts, says Laryea Kingston

Jul 27 2008 By Gordon Waddell

LARYEA KINGSTON has promised Hearts fans he'll be their Iron Man this season after finally getting himself fit.

The luckless Ghanaian midfielder has never managed a 30-game season in his professional career thanks to a string of injuries and bans.

Last term he only made 20 appearances for the Jambos in a campaign blighted by knocks plus a trip to the Africa Cup of Nations.

But the 27-year-old has been sparkling in pre-season and insists he's now ready to justify his reputation as one of the SPL's class acts.

The 28-cap African said: "Fingers crossed I'm praying I avoid injuries because I wasn't happy with how things went last year. I want a season of playing every week, giving everything to the team.

"It'smy aim to make this my big year at Hearts and I'm working hard in training. I don't want to miss a game and I'll do everything to achieve that, all the conditioning I need to stay fit."

If he does, and the talents of Michael Stewart and Eggert Jonsson flourish alongside him, Kingston reckons Hearts can match any midfield in Scotland.

The only thing they lack is a 20-goal-a-season striker.

Kingston said: "We have a good midfield with a lot of options - I can play right, behind the strikers, holding, wherever needed. But our strength is the heart of the team.

"If we can find a finisher we are done. That would help us a lot.

"I've played against some of the biggest players in the world so the Old Firm don't worry me. You can make a name in one night, it's how you maintain it that matters. We need that attitude at Hearts."

And Kingston reckons he's already seeing it under Csaba Laszlo in Germany.

Laryea said: "We can get a medal this year. It's all about how you play as a team and we are united now.

"There was so much gossip last season, so much pressure on the manager, but hopefully this season we stay calm and get stability.

"Everyone is happy with the new boss and we'll be glad if he stays for a long time.

"I didn't know him before but he did well building up Uganda. They beat Cameroon and Nigeria."