Steven Naismith hopes Beni Baningime will be back on the pitch "quite quickly" with the midfielder's injury issue much more straightforward.

The 25-year-old has missed most of Heart of Midlothian's pre-season and sat out of the Scottish Premiership opener with Rangers alongside fellow midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof.

Baningime was having an issue with the back of his knee and the top of his calf. It was preventing him from getting on the pitch to train ahead of the new campaign. The club have got to the bottom of the problem area, and it is good news.

"He's had a bit of swelling at the back of his knee but it is a cist," Naismith said on Friday. "He's had a wee bit of treatment on that so it makes it a much more straightforward thing from thinking whether it is his calf or the back of his hamstring.

"I'm hoping he can now progress his rehab to be on the pitch quite quickly."

Hearts kicked off their season with a 0-0 draw against Rangers with the midfield duo of Cammy Devlin and Jorge Grant impressing in Baningime and Nieuwenhof's absence. The game also marked the debut of new midfield signing Malachi Boatening, making it one of the most competitive areas in Naismith's squad.

The Hearts players are aware of the manager's plans to rotate and maximise the use of a deep squad with a hectic schedule on the horizon.

"I feel the competition for places and the depth we've got within the squad is obviously really necessary with Europe," Devlin said. "The next four to five months up until Christmas is going to be games every three, four days.

"Even after that, having competition for places at this club should be the norm. It just raises the levels in training. It's been really good, really positive."