Aaron McEneff on Hearts' togetherness and the team-mate who is 'still smiling' despite season-ending blow

News that Beni Baningime could be out for nine months with cruciate ligament damage was a blow to more than the player himself, but while team-mates are gutted he will miss an appetising end of this season and the tantalising start of the next, the midfielder has been the one lifting spirits.

And Aaron McEneff believes the squad’s togetherness will see them through.

“I’m gutted for Beni. I’m quite close with him and when it happened, I didn’t realise how severe it was going to be. I’m gutted as are the rest of the boys, because he’s a great guy.”

With so much to play for - in the league and the Scottish Cup - minds have had to focus on business on the park, as Robbie Neilson’s men travel to Dingwall before then turning attentions to back-to-back derbies. With Hearts looking safe in third place, those games could determine whether old foes Hibs will join them in the top six after the split, while the cup semi-final could book Hearts a place in the final and guarantee group stage football in Europe next term.

Baningime will have to settle for the role of spectator but, having fulfilled that part throughout this season, as he waited for a run in the team, McEneff is now illustrating the value of the squad.

“That's football, isn't it? You get injuries, it's part and parcel. It's important you then have other people ready to come in and play. When people have been out this season, other players have come in and done well.

“It's part of the manager and Joe's job to recruit a squad - not 11 players. In my opinion, they've done that really well. We've got a great squad and it's time to use it.”

And, just as the Irishman willed on his colleagues, he knows that the former Everton midfielder will be doing everything he can to help