Kingsley targets Scotland
HEARTS V RAITH ROVERS
STEPHEN Kingsley admits a recall to the Scotland squad is among his targets after signing a new 18-month contract at Hearts.
The left-back is back playing regularly at the Championship leaders after joining last October following an injury plagued three-year stint at Hull City.
Kingsley’s first objective is to help Robbie Neilson’s side return to the top flight, an aim that looks increasingly likely to be realised with Hearts boasting a seven-point lead at the summit ahead of today’s visit of Raith Rovers.
Beyond that, Kingsley would love to catch national team manager Steve Clarke’s attention. His only appearance to date came in 2016 in a friendly loss to France.
Speaking ahead of today’s visit of Raith Rovers, Kingsley said: “I’ve been in squads before and made one appearance. That was obviously a very proud moment for me and my family.
“I feel if I work as hard as I can and improve as much as I can in club football then that’ll take care of itself. If I can impress here and do my thing, then that will hopefully lead to a call-up.
“I know being a left that there’s some heavy competition there. I understand that but I just need to focus on myself and if it comes my way, then brilliant.”
Meanwhile, John McGlynn is keeping his fingers crossed Raith Rovers’ Covid-19 outbreak has been successfully extinguished as they bid to overcome illness and inactivity to face Hearts.
The Kirkcaldy outfit returned to training yesterday for the first time in 10 days after a flare-up of coronavirus at Stark’s Park that caused last weekend’s encounter with Inverness to be postponed.
He said: “Friday was the first day we’ve been back training so we were obviously assessing how healthy the players are and it’s been very mixed with regards to the degree of illness.
“After the wee unexpected break, I think everyone will be keen to get playing football again. We just don’t know how much it’s going to affect us and it may be later in the game before it does.
“Are we as prepared as we would normally be? Of course not, but we’ll do the best we possibly can.”