Influential Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime is yet to enjoy a consistent run in the team this season.
The Congolese star has been plagued with a number of problems that has seen him miss 14 games across all competitions.
Baningime is arguably the Jambos’ most technically gifted player and without him in the middle of the park, Neil Critchley’s side lack clear quality.
He’s missed the last four games for Hearts due to a knee injury that is proving more difficult to shake off than expected.
But Baningime gave Hearts fans some encouragement before last night’s bitterly disappointing 2-2 draw with Petrocub in the Europa Conference League that meant the Gorgie side failed to qualify for the knockout play-off round.
Baningime targeting Hearts return vs St Johnstone
Speaking at Tynecastle, Baningime is hoping to return against St Johnstone, a massive bottom of the table Premiership clash: “Hopefully I am back for the weekend.
“In the space of a week, me, Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent have gone down, we knew something like this would happen in a long season with how many games we have played.”
Hearts with and without Baningime
Baningime has played 11 games for Hearts this season and three of those have been victories against Dinamo Minsk, St Mirren and St Johnstone.
That is a 27.27% win percentage for the Jambos when he’s in the team. And while that figure appears relatively low, it’s a lot worse when Baningime isn’t donning the maroon.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 10 |  Ross CountyRoss County | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 33 | -20 | 15 |
| 11 |  ST JohnstoneST Johnstone | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 20 | 32 | -12 | 14 |
| 12 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 26 | -8 | 13 |
Hearts have won just 14.28% of games without the 26-year-old and there’s no doubt Critchley will be keen for him to start against the Perth Saints on Sunday.
Hearts are bottom of the table but a win at home would see them leapfrog Simo Valakari’s side and open up a two point gap between the two teams.