Baningime desperate to come back with a bang
BENI BANINGIME admits he is desperate to fast-track his recovery from an acl injury with a view to playing in Hearts’ European campaign.
The midfielder was left in shock when he was told he had suffered the serious knee problem from a game in March against Livingston after initially thinking it was only a minor knock.
Manager Robbie Neilson has him pencilled in for a return after the World Cup shut down in December.
However, with the Gorgie side being guaranteed group stage football in at least the Europa Conference League until November, Baningime has set himself the ambitious target of being involved in those matches.
He said: “Apparently you’re supposed to hear a pop but I didn’t hear anything.
“I walked off and thought: ‘Okay, I should be all right.’ Then the results came back, that’s life.
“One-hundred-per-cent it was more of a shock because I didn’t think it was that bad.
“I felt I was in a dream. You know when you’re having a nightmare and trying to wake up? It’s football.
“I spoke to John Souttar, he’s had a few injuries and come back and look where he is. This happens in football so you need to come back and deal with it.
“The physios are the most knowledgeable, Pete (Haring) has been out for a long time and Stephen Kingsley.
“Liam Boyce had the same injury as me and came back in six months so that’s what I’m going for. The boys have been great trying to help me through.
“I missed the two games at Hampden in the Scottish Cup but I’m hoping to be back for some European games. I have to try and deal with it quickly so I need to get excited for when I’m back.
“I will come back stronger and better.”
Baningime joined his teammates on their training camp in Spain last week to continue his rehab and concedes the medical department are having to put the reins on him.
The 23-year-old, who flourished before his injury after making the move from Everton one year ago, added: “We have a plan for after the break, around December or January.
“If I can take four weeks or three weeks off that – or even just one day – I’ll take it.
“That’s what we’ve been speaking about. The physios are having a heart attack but I’ll just try to get back as quickly as possible.
“They’re have to hold me back. I’m getting a bit excited, telling them I’ll be back next week.
“It’s coming on all right. I’ve started doing gym work so I’ll be strengthening my legs for the next six months to get them as strong as possible and then come back. I’m excited for that.”
Baningime appreciated being amongst his team-mates in Spain last week and had Craig Halkett for company in the gym as the defender recovers from a minor ankle operation.
He added: “Me and Halks are the only ones not fit but it was great being with the boys in Spain. Being at the same place, different scenery, great facilities, it’s a lot better.
“It does make you feel part of it. Even in the Scottish Cup final, you’re a part of it if we had done something special.
“But there’s always a part of you wishing you were out there giving everything you’ve got.”
One-hundredper-cent it was more of a shock because I didn’t think it was that bad