Hearts defender Christos Karipidis has pleaded with Jambos fans to get off Calum Elliot's back ahead of the new season.The 21-year-old striker endured a torrid time last season with the Gorgie club and found himself the target of the Tynecastle boo-boys, some of whom gave him stick during the friendly against Glentoran in Belfast earlier in the week.

The Greek stopper wants the slate wiped clean for Elliott ahead of the SPL kick-off next month.

"We must stick together," the 25-year-old former PAOK defender said.

"I don't like it when the supporters have a go at Calum.

"He is young and we must boost his confidence but the criticism will get him down.

"So I must send this message to the fans - forget everything, it is a new season and we have to stick together.

"It's not good for the team if the supporters have a problem with some players."

Karipidis admits Elliot, who has had a loan spell at Motherwell, could be forced out of Tynecastle for good if the situation is not resolved.

He said: "Football is very hard. One game when you play well, the supporters are very happy, the next game when you don't play well, the supporters are not so happy.

"It is not possible for everyone to like you, some do and some don't.

"If he doesn't feel good then maybe it's better for him to leave for another club.

"But if he wants to stay here he has to forget everything and have a new start.

"I would prefer for Calum to stay, he is a good player and I believe in him."

Karipidis insists new manager Csaba Laszlo has brought some welcome discipline to the club since taking over at Tynecastle following the exit of caretaker Stevie Frail.

The former Uganda manager watched his side lose 1-0 at Dunfermline on Wednesday, two days after their 1-1 draw at Glentoran.

But Karipidis believes Laszlo is putting the building blocks in place for a successful season.

He said: "The new manager told us right away that he wants discipline in the team and that is very important.

"The discipline starts with something simple but very important, like time-keeping.

"For instance, if he says we start training at 9.45 then we must start then.

"And when he says we must do something on the pitch, we must do exactly what he says - if we don't do it then maybe we will have problems."

Laszlo will hold discussions with Uganda midfielder David Obua after the player arrived in Edinburgh this morning.

Obua has recently been on trial at West Ham United but is keen to consider all options after leaving the South African club Kaiser Chiefs on freedom of contract.

It is not yet clear whether Obua, 24, would qualify for a UK work permit but he flew into Edinburgh to meet his former coach and tour Hearts' facilities at both Tynecastle and Riccarton.

"We have arrived in Scotland and we will meet the manager for some talks," Janos Hrutka, Obua's agent, told the Edinburgh Evening News.

"There is not much more we can say at the moment.

"There may be more to say after the discussions with Mr Laszlo and the work permit is something we must talk about."

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