Goncalves and Stewart have both said they will wait before deciding their future

Hearts captain Michael Stewart and defender Jose Goncalves will wait until the end of the season before deciding their futures at Tynecastle.

Both players have been regulars in manager Csaba Laszlo's squad but are out of contract in the summer.

Laszlo told BBC Scotland: "Mike Stewart told me he wants to wait before giving a concrete answer."

And he says Goncalves wants to improve his chances of representing Portugal at next year's World Cup finals.

Laszlo, who lost the likes of Christophe Berra, Robbie Neilson, Bruno Aguiar and Christos Karipidis last term, fears another mass exodus from Hearts if the club fail to back him in the January transfer window.

Larryea Kingston, Christian Nade and Marian Kello are also all out of contract at the end of the season.

We've lost too many experienced players Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo

"These players need a plan and they would like to know that next season we have good players," said Laszlo.

"You enjoy football, you enjoy training if you have competition."

Laszlo is desperate to recruit a striker at the very least next month.

"A lot of important players' contracts run out and we must think that, in the summer, definitely, you need players who give you the possibility to have a strong team," he said.

"You need experienced players and around the experienced players you must build. We've lost too many experienced players."

Goncalves is desperate to break into the Portugal squad for the World Cup and Laszlo thinks Hearts can help him realise his dream to be in South Africa 2010.

However, the player said earlier this month that any decision over his future at the club will depend on Laszlo's future.

The Portuguese, whose deal expires in the summer, insists he is not planning to leave Tynecastle but would consider an exit if manager Laszlo was to leave.

The 25-year-old announced his intention to move on from Hearts but has not ruled out a contract extension.

Celtic are one of several clubs reported to be interested in signing the centre-back.

"I talked with Jose last week again and he gave me a very concrete and very correct answer," said Laszlo.

"This is the question for the board in which direction we decide to go.

"I read also in the newspaper that Jose said at the end of the season he would like to leave the club, but he told me that he feels very good here in Scotland.

"He enjoys the football, even if we don't have good results."

Stewart challenged Hearts in September to convince him to extend his stay at Tynecastle before his contract expires in 2010.

The 28-year-old was appointed club captain at the start of the season after returning for a second spell at the club just over two years ago.

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