Target of assassination targets trophies

HEARTS star Laryea Kingston has told how he survived an assassination attempt in Russia.

The Ghanaian, who was playing for Lokomotiv Moscow, revealed how a gunman opened fire as he drove home from a game against rivals Dinamo.

The bullet exploded through his rear windscreen and missed him by inches.

Kingston said: "The bullet flew past on the passenger side. As soon as I got home my wife and she headed straight back to Ghana. But I had no option but to stay and finish the season.

"I enjoy life in Scotland because the people are very sociable and respectful to foreigners."

KINGSTON TARGETS TROPHIES

Laryea Kingston has his sights set on bringing silverware to Tynecastle after a period of controversy for both him and the club.

Kingston signed a three-year contract at Tynecastle earlier this month after an impressive loan spell persuaded the club to give Russian side Terek Grozny £500,000 for his services.

Hearts are the ninth club Kingston has played for in a career that has taken him from his native Ghana to Scotland via Libya, Israel and Russia.

Kingston's recent career has been littered with controversy - he missed the 2006 World Cup after being given a four-match ban following an off-the-ball incident during the African Nations Cup.

He was given a six-match ban last year when the Russian FA ruled he had deliberately injured an opponent while playing for Lokomotiv Moscow, and a three-game ban hangs over him after he branded referee Steve Conroy a racist following a red card against Aberdeen.

Kingston has joined a club that has grown accustomed to uncertainty in recent years, with no permanent head coach in place as Hearts began their pre-season training yesterday.

But interim boss Anatoly Korobochka and assistant Stephen Frail presided over a period of relative stability in the last few months of last season, with Kingston influential in the middle of the park.

And the 26-year-old is looking ahead to the coming season with the belief that such stability can reap rewards for him and the club.

"Now I'm concentrating on my game and that's all," he said. "I can see Hearts are a very good team and a good family.

"The people around the team are very good people so I see myself at home here.

"There's quite a lot of pressure now but I think we can manage to win something this season.

"There is a lot of pressure on me because every time I play I can see all the players are relying on me so I don't want to let them down.

"I need to go all out to make my team happy because they rely on me, so I need to work very hard.

"I'm okay with any pressure, now I'm experienced. I have played a lot of games, international and club level as well, so I don't think there is going to be a problem for me.

"I will manage to play through this pressure."

Kingston appealed against his three-match ban for using "insulting, offensive and abusive" language towards Conroy after being booked twice for reckless tackles at Pittodrie.

And he has urged the Scottish Football Association to recognise his overall disciplinary record in Scotland.

"I played about 11 games without a yellow card so I'm pleading with them to see that I am a clean player, not a violent player," he said.

Kingston rejected offers from Newcastle and Bolton to sign a long-term deal with Hearts as he feels his career can flourish in Edinburgh.

"Newcastle is a very big club but now is not the time to go there," he said.

"I need to stay here a little bit longer."