After making a big impact with Derby County’s Under-23s last season, Darren Wassall has backed Mason Bennett to take his form into pre-season with the first team.
After being held back by injury over the first half of the 2016/17 season, the 20-year-old returned after the New Year to become a key figure for the Rams’ Under-23s – playing a key role behind them retaining their Premier League 2 Division 1 status.
Bennett’s form was also rewarded with a recall to the first team picture and he made his first two Sky Bet Championship appearances since January 2015.
Assessing that period of time from returning from injury, Wassall says it is the most consistent spell the young forward has had in two years.
With pre-season looming, Derby’s academy director has tipped Bennett to leave a lasting impression on Gary Rowett ahead of what has been described as a ‘really important year’ for him.
Wassall told RamsTV: “The impact that Mason Bennett had cannot be underestimated. He had been injured most of the season before Christmas and after he came back, it was the best four months he has had in a couple of years.
“He has been on loan a couple of times and it hasn’t worked out for him. He’s always been in and around the fringes of the first team, but has never been able to maintain that first team place.
“Full credit to him, though. He came on a lot after Christmas and has been one of the big reasons why the team’s results and performances turned into wins.
“We had a few draws and a few losses where we had been very unlucky, but the quality that Mason produced on a consistent level for the last four months was a big, big, plus and a big reason that we won the amount of games that we needed to.
“This coming season is a really important year for him but it all bodes well looking ahead.”
Bennett is currently the holder of the record for Derby County's youngest-ever competitive player, appearing against Middlesbrough in October 2011 at the age of 15 years and 99 days.