Toby Sibbick can’t wait for Beni Baningime to be back expressing himself on the pitch - after a week of having to listen to his room mate’s “crazy opinions” in Marbella.
The playmaker got his first action since tearing his ACL against Livingston 15 months ago when he came on for the last quarter of an hour of Hearts' 1-0 friendly defeat to Plymouth in Marbella on Thursday. That spelled the end of a mentally draining period for the former Everton midfielder. At first the Jambos had pencilled in a return around World Cup time in November. But as the knee refused to repair at the desired speed eight months on the sidelines became almost double. Sibbick insists the 24-year-old’s quality on the ball in the middle of the park was a massive miss for the Jambos as they lost their grip on third place in the Premiership.
But even in just 15 minutes against the Pilgrims he showed he’s lost none of the old craft that made him a fans’ favourite before his injury. Baningime’s love of a forthright opinion was clear from the off at Tynecastle when he declared “I’ll make this club money” in his first interview. And Sibbick reckons he can just about put up with his mate’s strong beliefs if he keeps producing on the pitch.
