The key Hearts partnership, injury blow and team's best performer

With the summer additions of Oisin McEntee, Tomas Magnusson and Ageu, a record-breaking signing, it would have been easy to assume that the midfield pairing would have had a new look under Derek McInnes. Especially when you consider the profile of players signed.

Yet, two of the best and most consistent performers have been Cammy Devlin and Beni Baningime. Up until Sunday, they had started the previous eight Premiership fixtures. A run that brought seven wins and a draw.

McInnes, speaking after the 2-2 draw with Dundee United, admitted that his side had perhaps missed the controlling, composed presence of Baningime. The midfielder and Hearts were dealt a blow with the news that he could miss the next four to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

On the one hand, it provides an opportunity for one of the summer signings. Magnusson started in Baningime's stead on Sunday. On the other hand, it breaks up a partnership that was not only excelling but evolving.

It has been the most popular midfield partnership since the summer of 2021, when both players arrived at the club. Baningime recently spoke about his relationship with Devlin. They are more than midfield team-mates. They are mates. Both have huge admirers within the Hearts support.

Still, how would they respond to what McInnes would demand of them as midfielders?

Devlin, in this writer's eyes, is, and has been for a while, the best defensive midfielder in the league. Baningime is one of the most composed players in the league.

If there is a criticism that could be labelled at both, neither has been the most progressive in possession. A proclivity to keep it safe rather than take greater risks. Neither is going to rack up their fair share of goals and assists, but there is no doubt that both could have a greater influence on progressing the game more quickly for Hearts.

As soon as McInnes took over, he spoke of playing with two strikers and two wingers. There would be a need to move the ball forward vertically, rather than horizontally.

Could Devlin and Baningime do that more effectively?

They have provided a resoundingly positive answer.

McInnes, speaking to Hearts Standard before news of Baningime's injury, described the pairing as "terrific".

"I'm not trying to change them too much because they are good players and they're good at what they do. A slight change for the positive because they're obviously good players, handle the ball well, get about their work, they get busy in there, they play in the gear that I need them to play at," he explained.

"I also need them to show a bit more variation with their passing as well. It's fine to keep the ball and it's fine to show composure and put your foot on it, but there's also a time to try and put stress on the opposition a bit quicker.

"I do think both lads have done what we've asked of them a lot more. I think both their games are in such a good place. I think both have done really well."

Devlin demonstrated that aspect against United. He was the team's best player.

There has never been any doubt about the defensive side of his game. As mentioned, there isn't a better midfielder out of possession (which we will get to). In possession, the player has had his critics. At times, that criticism has been too harsh.

But watching him this campaign, it feels as though he has taken a step forward in terms of his responsibility. Not just with those passes that put stress on the opposition, but dictating and directing the play and his team-mates.

Early on, he ignored two shorter, easier passes, one forward and one back, to zip a pass to Shankland wide of the United midfield.

Devlin finds Shankland. (Image: Wyscout)

Later on, he read the game to thwart a United attack before carrying the ball forward, exchanging passes with Shankland and then finding Kyziridis out wide.

Devlin intercepts (Image: Wyscout)

Exchanges passes with Shankland (Image: Wyscout)

Devlin drives forward before finding Kyziridis (Image: Wyscout)

Again, he was more proactive with a pass into Kyziridis, who had picked up a good position, rather than going across the pitch to Magnusson.

Devlin's direct to Kyziridis. (Image: Wyscout)

Then, later in the half, with United deep in their shape, he provided a switch of play.

Devlin switch of play. (Image: Wyscout)

As for Baningime, his performance against St Mirren was demonstrative of a player who has taken on board what's required of him as a midfielder in a team that wants to play forward whenever possible.

Early on, he finds Kyziridis goal side of the Buddies midfield. This might seem so straightforward, but it is important to play forward quickly against a team like St Mirren when the pass is on. And also, the pass out wide to Stephen Kingsley is perhaps the one that would have been taken in previous seasons.

Beni finds Kyziridis. (Image: Wyscout)

One element of Baningime's game that is excellent, but he perhaps doesn't use as much as he should, is his driving runs. He's created goals in the past doing just that.

Look where he gets the ball against St Mirren. Again, the pass across the pitch seems the most likely.

Beni in space. (Image: Wyscout)

But look where he ends up, attracting three players towards him before moving the ball to Shankland.

Beni in the final third. (Image: Wyscout)

Then there was a moment that stuck with me from around the half-hour mark. Baningime had done brilliantly to win the ball back. After getting a pass from Kyziridis, he did his trademark turn away from two opponents to create space.

Now, look at him lining up a pass. He is going to pass to Craig Halkett out of shot, isn't he?

Beni lining up a pass. (Image: Wyscout)

Nope. He wraps his foot around the ball and finds Harry Milne in space in the middle of the park. Hearts scored moments later.

Beni's surprise pass. (Image: Wyscout)

The stats back up what Hearts fans are seeing.

In the following areas, Devlin and Baningime have increased/improved on their output (per 90 minutes) in the Scottish Premiership:

• Passes
• Pass success rate
• Deep progressions (passes and dribbles/carries into the final third)
• Passes in the final third
• Long passes
• Pass length
• Percentage of passes forward

Both players have perhaps been helped by the set-up of the team. When they look up, they have two strikers as targets, as well as two wide men capable of holding their width or drifting in off the flank.

"The fact that we've got good wide players and good strikers reinforces the need to play forward a bit more and a bit quicker," McInnes said of the team's game plan. "And not just forward to the strikers, but also play switches of play so we can get at the opposition and get the ball to players that can make the difference. Players who are happy to take people on and give them their maximum opportunity."

It is perhaps a tad harsh to pick out one of the two when they have been such an effective partnership. But Devlin has been the team's best player this season. His consistency and his influence have been unrivalled.

Early in the campaign, McInnes labelled Devlin as "first class".

Of course, the attacking players have delivered plenty of goals, whether it be through scoring or assisting. Defensively, Craig Halkett and Stuart Findlay have been excellent.

Devlin, however, has excelled. As well as taking his game in possession onto another level, he remains a defensive tour de force. Below shows this season (red) compared to last season (blue) for various defensive metrics.

Devlin's defensive output. (Image: StatsBomb)

Expanding on the above, below is a list of defensive metrics. Devlin ranks in the top five for each metric in the Premiership. (Each is per 90 minutes and factors the 117 players to have played at least 600 minutes):

• Interceptions - 2.62 (1st)
• Possession adjusted interceptions - 2.77 (1st)
• Tackles - 4.40 (1st)
• Possession adjusted tackles - 4.95 (1st)
• Tackles and interceptions - 7.02 (1st)
• Defensive actions (Tackles, pressure events and fouls) - 30.69 (4th)
• Aggressive actions (Tackles, pressure events and fouls within 2 seconds of an opposition ball receipt)- 16.58 (5th)
• Defensive regains (Times a player’s team won the ball back within 5 seconds of the player making a defensive action against an opponent) - 11.80 (1st)
• Ball recoveries - 15.19 (2nd)
• Ball recoveries in the opposition half - 8.95 (1st)
• Possession adjusted pressures - 27.11 (5th)
• Pressure regains (Times a player’s team won the ball back within 5 seconds of the player pressuring an opponent) - 9.25 (1st)
• Counterpressures (Pressures exerted within 5 seconds of a turnover) - 8.17 (1st)
• Counterpressure regains (Times a team won the ball back within 5 seconds of a player counterpressuring an opponent) - 3.01 (1st)
• Counterpressures in opposing half - 5.17 (3rd)

Devlin is vital to the way Hearts play when they lose the ball. He so often sets the tone for that immediate reaction.

It is unfortunate that the Devlin and Baningime midfield axis has been broken up, especially with its continued evolution. It provides an opportunity for someone else, however. Whoever it is has big shoes to fill.

But they can take great encouragement from the fact that they will be lining up alongside the team's player of the year so far.

Read more

• The impressive Hearts set-piece threat under the microscope and how it compares
• Why Hearts' attacking line-up didn't translate into goal-scoring opportunities
• Derek McInnes reveals Beni Baningime timeline and frustration over stoppage time