Baningime backs striker Simms to be a smash hit at Hearts

Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime says his former Everton teammate Ellis Simms has all the attributes to be a star on loan at Tynecastle.

Simms joined Hearts on loan from the English Premier League side on Wednesday and was pitched straight into the action when he came off the bench against Celtic later that evening.

Baningime, who played alongside Simms in Everton’s Under-23 side, says the loan can be a success for all parties and that Hearts have landed a gem.

“They’ve got a great player,” he said. “I was speaking to him yesterday before he signed and was telling him about the games.

“I told him about the fans and the league and about how passionate everyone is. He was like ‘I really want to join’.”

He joked : “I did a little bit of agent work.

“The gaffer had convinced him to come and the club and how we’re doing had convinced him.

“It must be something about Everton, they create some good players.

“Against Celtic I thought he was brilliant, really good. It was good to see him and soon you’ll be seeing him scoring.”

The midfielder believes it won’t be long before Simms gets on the scoresheet, and believes the forward is so quick he will cause Premiership defences plenty of problems.

He said: “Me and him trained with the first team at Everton and he looked really good there.

“I think he’ll do well here and kick on to whatever he wants to do after that.

“His pace, he’s so lightning. You can give him a bad ball and he’ll make it into a good ball.

“That’s something not many people have and when he does get into position he can put it away.”

Simms is likely to get his next chance to impress when Hearts play Motherwell on Saturday.