Laszlo says Karipidis will feature before the end of the season

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo says Omonia Nicosia-bound defender Christos Karipidis will feature in the Edinburgh club's remaining SPL games.

Karipidis signed a pre-contract deal with the Cypriot outfit on Monday, but Laszlo said the defender still had an important role to play at Tynecastle.

"If Karipidis is fit, he will play," Laszlo told his club website.

"He's a good professional. We have five games left and hopefully we can stay in third place with Kari in the team."

Karipidis, who joined Hearts from from Greek side PAOK FC for £200,000 in 2006, said he was keen to move closer to his family in Greece.

And he vowed to help Hearts secure a European place before joining his new club in the summer.

Laszlo said he would be disappointed to see Karipidis leave, adding: "I had been hoping to have him here next season.

"But now we have a new situation which me must look at. This is life."

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