Hearts star Beni Baningime was once an up-and-coming young talent at Everton.
So much so that was once picked in the first-team ahead of the legendary Wayne Rooney.
During the 2017/18 season, Ronald Koeman had been sacked by the Toffees after a poor start to the Premier League season.
David Unsworth was in as interim boss and because he had previously taken charge of the youth teams he looked to promote some of the younger players, including Baningime.
That led to Rooney, playing in midfield in the latter part of his career, being benched for the Hearts star.
Not that he holds a grudge or anything…
TOPSHOT - Everton's English striker Wayne Rooney (C) celebrates scoring his third goal to complete his hattrick during the English Premier League f...
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Baningime ‘should never’ have played ahead of Rooney
Under Unsworth, Rooney didn’t make it off the bench for games against Crystal Palace and Southampton.
But in the caretaker’s last game before handing over to Sam Allardyce, he restored the club legend to his starting team.
Rooney would repay his by scoring three in a 4-0 win and that turned out to be his last ever hat-trick in football, the last of which was lashed in from his own half.
The Plymouth Argyle boss has been looking back on his iconic goals and has let slip he still holds a grudge against Baningime for taking his place.
Asked about that third West Ham strike, he said: “Such a great feeling because I’d been left out the team actually for a couple of games.
“Dave Unsworth came in as interim manager and he obviously came up from the under-21s so he left me out for Beni Baningime, we played Chelsea and there was another game.
“He was promoting the young players as well. Beni should never have been playing ahead of me!
“Sam Allardyce was coming in after this game so I think Unsy just put me back in. What I wanted to do when I went back to Everton was score in the Gladys Street again and I hadn’t up until this moment.
“So to score my third goal, from inside my own half and my hat-trick goal at the Gladys Street was a great feeling.”
📅 On this day, 7 years ago, Wayne Rooney scored this goal against Joe Hart. 👀
The technique is a joke. 😮💨😮💨 pic.twitter.com/2bTFVVHCNJ
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 29, 2024
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Can Hearts star Baningime get back to a higher level?
Almost immediately after signing for Hearts, Baningime showed why he had been so highly regarded at Everton.
Pitched straight into Robbie Neilson’s side, he was man-of-the-match in a win over Celtic.
He’s continued those high standards when playing for the Jambos under Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley since.
But he’s also shown why he perhaps didn’t make it – injuries.
The midfielder has regularly missed games for the Tynecastle side, including over a year out with a cruciate injury at one point.
He still struggles to play two games in a week at the moment.
While Baningime could potentially get back to a higher level, the English Championship perhaps, the Premier League may be a step too far again.
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