Kingston calls on Hearts to boost their firepower

LARRY KINGSTON today implored Hearts to reinforce their forward line for next season or risk another mediocre campaign due to lack of firepower.

Saturday's 0-0 draw with Falkirk exemplified the toothless nature of Hearts' attack as they failed to register a single shot on target, the dropping of two points subsequently damaging their top-six aspirations.

Having seen Andrius Velicka follow Roman Bednar and Michal Pospisil out the exit door since last August, Kingston stressed the need for quality striking replacements to arrive during the summer to supplement Christian Nade and Calum Elliot, who have scored only nine times between them this season.

"I don't know the plans of the management, but I hope they will do their best to bring a couple of new players to the team," he said. "We lost our top scorer, so definitely we need someone to replace him as soon as possible.

"It's quite unfortunate that Christian Nade had an injury and could not be with us against Falkirk, so we are lacking strikers at the moment. Calum Elliot is doing his best. He's a young lad, but I think if he had a lot of encouragement and confidence he could make it.

"Velicka left, this is life and it was his decision. I can't stand on his foot and say he shouldn't go.

"I really understand the supporters. We are doing our best but on Saturday our best was not enough. We're not happy if we lose a game, or draw, or don't put in a good performance for them.

"We appreciate everything they do for us, especially playing at home. We promise them we are going to make them happy."

Kingston was due to join his national squad ahead of tomorrow evening's friendly with Mexico, a game being staged at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground in London. He returned from a foot injury against Falkirk but Hearts coaching staff are keen that the midfielder is not used excessively by Claude le Roy, the Ghana coach, with this weekend's visit of Dundee United taking on added significance after Saturday's result.

The player himself stressed he is keen to remain at Tynecastle next season, where his current contract runs until 2010. However, the Evening News can reveal that English clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion are monitoring his situation. Both had scouts at Tynecastle on Saturday, with West Brom manager Tony Mowbray extremely keen on the influential Ghanaian.

"I'm happy to stay with Hearts, my family is happy here," continued Kingston. "I'm a little bit disappointed for myself this season because my ambition was to win the league. After this season I have two more years, so I'm concentrating 100 per cent here to do my best to win something."