Kingston close to Hearts comeback

Kingston has missed the last five matches for in-form Hearts

Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston has targeted a return to action against Rangers on Saturday.

The Ghanaian has missed the last five matches with a thigh injury but has now resumed training.

"My aim is the game against Rangers and I'm pretty sure I will be okay for that match," he told the club website.

"It has been a frustrating few weeks with the niggling problem in my leg but hopefully everything is okay now and I can get back to playing football."

Kingston's recovery was not helped by a 4000-mile round-trip to his homeland.

The 28-year-old was asked to travel in order to prove to his national manager that he was unfit to feature in the midweek friendly against Tunisia.

Tynecastle manager Csaba Laszlo would have preferred it if the player had stayed in Edinburgh but Ghana's FA wanted Kingston in Accra so his country's team doctors could examine the extent of his injury.

He would not have featured in Hearts' 2-1 win over Falkirk on Saturday even if he had remained in Scotland.

And Kingston may find it hard to win his place back in a team that has won their last four league outings.