Ghana-Mexico: Anger over Kingston's call-up

Scottish side Heart of Midlothian are deeply unhappy about the call-up of midfielder Laryea Kingston by Ghana for an international friendly against Mexico this week.

Kingston's call to the national team came despite him playing just one match for the Edinburgh club since he returned injured six weeks ago from the MTN African Cup of Nations.

The Tynecastle playmaker has been drafted into an 18-man squad by Claude Le Roy, the Ghana coach, for the gameat Fulham's Craven Cottage on Wednesday.

Kingston's last match was Ghana's cup quarter-final victory over Nigeria on February 3.

He sustained a foot injury during the game and only returned to full training with his club earlier this week and played at the weekend for the club.
But Le Roy wants to use the 27 year-old against Mexico, which prompted anger from Stephen Frail, the Hearts head coach.

"We'll be in touch with the Ghanaian FA and we'll send documents down with Laryea to say he has not played since the African Cup of Nations," Frail said.

"We would ask them to respect that. If he goes, we want him back in one piece and ready for the next Hearts game.

"There's not a lot we can do about his international commitments, as long as he comes through unscathed."

Kingston played for his club on Saturday for the first time since 1 December last year and is fit to play for the Black Stars but there are concerns that the Ghanaian authorities must foster his club career as another injury on Wednesday could be seen as unfair on Hearts.

Le Roy views the Mexico friendly as an important part of Ghana's preparations for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, hence the inclusion of Kingston and other stars such as Michael Essien, of Chelsea.

"There is no longer a term as 'friendly' in our dictionary," Le Roy said.

"We consider every game very important and if you know Mexico's worth and strength, then you would not want to say it is just another friendly."

Prince Buaben, the Dundee United midfield player, has also been drafted in to the Ghana squad.

"It is always important to give new players a chance to prove to all that the door is always open," the coach said of the Tannadice teenager.