Bennett On Cloud Nine

Forward on top of the world after netting first ever League goal.

Striker Mason Bennett could do little to hide his delight after the 17-year-old scored his first ever professional League goal in the Rams’ emphatic 5-1 victory over Millwall at The Den.
The forward replaced Chris Martin with just 12 minutes remaining during the win over the Lions, and still had enough time to open his account in the SkyBet Championship with a fine finish.
After reaching the prestigious milestone, Bennett told Rams Player:“I am very pleased; it has been a long time coming, I have been waiting a long while for this first League goal. 
“I have been playing since I was 15 and we are two years on from that now, so I am glad it has finally arrived, and hopefully there will be a lot more to come.
“I am really happy that the Gaffer has shown his faith in me, and decided to put me on in the last few minutes at Millwall.
“I didn’t expect to get on the pitch; there was Conor (Sammon), (Michael) Jacobs and Ben (Davies) on the bench and I thought I would be the last person to come on!
“The atmosphere was wild but I really enjoyed it, it was a really good experience for me.
“We have got players like (Richard) Keogh and (Jake) Buxton who are in the changing room for a reason - they lift the lads, they are captains and leaders and we were fully focussed on a win.”
Bennett became Derby’s youngest-ever scorer at 16 years and 174 days when he netted the final goal in the side’s 5-0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup Third Round win in January earlier this year.
The 17-year-old has risen through the ranks at the club, alongside England Under-21 international Will Hughes, and Bennett admits his goal against Millwall was even sweeter as it arrived following a pass from his former Academy team-mate.
“It was Will who tried to play me through and it has come off their defender with a bit of a deflection and I have just gambled on it, gone through and smashed it into the bottom corner," said Bennett.
"I haven’t had much of an opportunity to play with Will. 
"It has always been one of my little dreams to play with him since we have been growing up together in the Under-16s going into the Under-18s, and now into the first-team."
Watch the full post-match interview with Mason Bennett exclusively on Rams Player.