Beni Baningime could make Hearts return this season as Robbie Neilson issues fresh fitness update on injured stars

Robbie Neilson admits Beni Baningime could play for Hearts before the end of the season as he gave a fitness update on him, Liam Boyce and Peter Haring.

Midfielder Baningime has been out since last March with a knee ligament injury suffered in a 2-0 win over Livingston at Tynecastle. Boyce suffered a similar fate after going down in August’s victory over St Johnstone, while Haring hasn't featured since suffering a severe concussion against Aberdeen back in October, the after effects he’s been feeling for some time.

But the Austrian is now back in training and Neilson is hopeful he’ll be back in action early next month. Boyce and Baningime will be a bit longer, but both have resumed running and are expected to return around the same time, which could be before the end of the season after the rehab process for Baningime accelerated in recent weeks. Hearts previously believed he wouldn't be back until after the summer.

“The other day was Peter’s first day of full training,” said Neilson . “He will probably be another couple of weeks before he is building up to being available, but he is getting there and that's great. He won't be far off it. I would think that he would definitely be available for us after the international break.

“Boycie and Baningime are both back running and are both at a similar stage. They will be another couple of months yet but it's good to see them out on the grass.

“Beni has been on the Alter-G [anti-gravity treadmill] and now he is running on the pitch. The first six months of his rehab were slow but recently he has picked up quite a bit, which is great to see. As always with these things you don't want to put an exact date on it, but he is coming along well.”

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