HEARTS boss Robbie Neilson insists Beni Baningime could be ahead of schedule in his comeback bid - even though he will not play again until next year.
The former Everton youngster has been sidelined since March after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a 2-0 win against Livingston.
The 24-year-old made a huge impression following his arrival at Tynecastle in July last year and his energy and passing ability has been missed during the Jambos’ injury-affected struggles so far this term.
Neilson is desperate to have the Kinshasa-born player back in fold as soon as possible. But he is adamant Baningime, who it was predicted would sit out around nine months, will be given all the time he needs in his rehabilitation.
Hearts return to Premiership action on December 17 with a home match against Kilmarnock and Neilson expects a clean bill of health, other than Baningime and Liam Boyce, who also damaged his ACL against St Johnstone in August.
The Hearts manager said: “I expect all of them back apart from Beni and Boyce. It will good to have everyone back again.
“With these things [ACL injuries] people say nine months but it is, more realistically, a year, so [Beni] might be ahead of schedule. When he’s ready, he’s ready.
“With Boycie, he has done his cruciate before so he knows how to rehab and he might be back sooner than we’d hoped.”
