Hearts’ playmaker Laryea Kingston says it would be honour to captain the Gorgie club.

It’s currently a three-horse race to lead the Edinburgh club into battle next season, with Michael Stewart and Marius Zaliukas also showing interest in receiving the captain’s armband, and for Kingston it would be a dream come true.

Speaking to the club website, Kingston said: “I'm happy here and if I was asked to be captain it would be a great honour. It would be a very big thing for me to captain the club and I am ready to do it if the manager asks me.”

He continued: “I would bring my experience to the role and try to pass this on to the other players... Hearts are one of the best teams in Scotland and this season hopefully we can challenge the Old Firm."

If successful, the Ghanaian international would replace former captain Robbie Nielson who after 13 years with Hearts, left to join Leicester City in in May.

Michael Stewart has already captained Hearts during the Edinburgh club's recent four-match pre-season tour of Germany, but Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo revealed earlier this month that all three players are strong contenders.

Kingston signed for Hearts in the summer of 2007, and has gone on to become a firm favourite with the Hearts fans.