Beni Baningime talks Hearts fans, pressure, worst mentality, players' mood, Man Utd comparison and Celtic trip

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The midfielder is back fit and eager to get involved

Watching from the sidelines is never to a footballer’s liking. Whether unfit or unselected, the frustration burns deep. Beni Baningime has suffered plenty of it during three years at Hearts, none worse than recent weeks. Being unable to help whilst the Edinburgh club lurched from defeat to defeat left the Congolese midfielder sitting in the stand exasperated. Thankfully, he is now fit again after injury.

Hearts travel to Celtic on Saturday when the William Hill Premiership resumes after international fortnight. After missing pre-season training and the first seven games of the campaign, Baningime is expected to be named in the squad for the most daunting away game in Scotland right now. Celtic have yet to concede a league goal amid a 100 per cent start to the campaign. “Yeah, a nice easy game,” he laughs. Hearts have missed his influence and composure.

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“Everyone says that, from a selfish point of view, if you are not playing and the team is not doing well, then it should be a good thing. I think that's the worst mentality to have,” says Baningime. “In my head, if you are good enough, the gaffer will bring you in even if the team is doing well. You want to come back when we are all flying because it makes it easier.

“When you are injured and watching, you are like: 'I can't do anything.' I'd rather be in there giving the ball away and struggling with you guys than just being on the outside looking and not doing anything. That's my perspective in life. It has been hard to watch. I'm just glad I'm back amongst it and I'll try to help as much as I can.”

Realistically, he is not ready to last 90 minutes but even 45 or 60 could make a difference. Hearts head to Glasgow joint-bottom of the Premiership and looking to end a run of six straight defeats in all competitions. There are certainly less formidable opponents to come up against when you badly need a result.

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“It's going to be a challenge. Celtic look better than last season,” acknowledges Baningime. “They are a great team and it doesn't get any harder than them and Rangers. It's so hard against them because of the ability and quality they have. You can't make any mistakes because they will punish you. In the first game at Celtic Park last season, we were a lot more reserved and solid [winning 2-0]. We played better football in the second game [losing 3-0] but hopefully the result is like the first one.”

The mood at Riccarton remains defiant even if confidence is impacted by results. Anger reached fever-pitch at the end of Hearts’ last loss against Dundee United at Tynecastle almost two weeks ago. The international break offered an opportunity to reset, regroup and refocus.

“Right now, the confidence might be a bit low,” reveals Baningime. “I think it's about sticking together. I was saying to the boys at the last game: 'If you don't win, don't lose.' You build little by little. It's not going to be easy. I believe in magic but there isn't a magic wand to just change it automatically. We have to keep doing what we did last year, understand that we are good players, but ultimately it's going to be hard.

“This is a hard game on Saturday so we stick together, try to get something out of the game, and kick on from there to show everyone how good you are. The reason the majority of us are here and got third place last year, it wasn't close, so we need to try to find that form again.

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“The training sessions have been really good. The standard is good, the mood is good. People forget that we were on a similar run last season where we didn't start well. We started very slowly. Once the mood starts to go, then that's it. You are gone as a team. We understand that we have to start winning games quickly, we are not being passive about the situation.

“The mood has to be: 'Okay boys, we aren't doing well, but we're a good team.' In my time being here, we have finished third, fourth and third. We were 12 points ahead in third place last year. We have a good team and we have added very good players, so we need to start clicking and getting results.”

Able to easily identify with the mindset of supporters, Baningime empathises with the dismay among many Jambos at the moment. Coaches, players and directors have all been the target of criticism as frustration grew over the last few weeks. It might get harder before it gets easier given Celtic are next on the fixture list. Baningime knows fans simply want to see improvement and likens their emotions to his own when following his childhood club.

“I'm a Manchester United fan, right?” he says. “If you hear me in the changing room, what I say about the players, these players are top players. Fans have the right to an opinion but, as a player, I don't look at social media or all those different things whether things are going well or not. Fans are so important to back us, but ultimately it's on us guys on the pitch to play well and start winning games.

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“Pressure? As a footballer you always have pressure. That's nothing new. If you are 19 you get helped through it but the majority of this team are all big boys now. You are playing for Hearts. There is pressure. Handle it. Deal with it. There is always going to be pressure the higher up you go. You just have to get on with it.”

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