3/1 To Win
Composure and a lack of respect.
They are the qualities that Gary Rowett wants to see from Mason Bennett in the coming weeks if he is to push himself even deeper into the first team picture.
Since becoming manager back in March, Rowett has been heavily impressed by the 21-year-old.
Last season, Bennett returned from injury and took his football with the Under-23s by the scruff of the neck, playing a crucial role as they retained their Premier League 2 Division 1 status.
His form earned him a return to the first team frame and now he is a consistent figure around the senior matchday squad.
To take that next step and force himself into being a regular in the starting XI, though, Bennett, a pacey and powerful unit, needs to add that clinical touch to his final ball, whether that is assisting or scoring himself.
On top of that, Rowett, 43, wants to see the forward show almost a ‘lack of respect’ for his team mates and instead let his desire to get into the starting XI shine through.
Derby’s manager told dcfc.co.uk: “I spoke to him at the start of the season and said, for me, there are kind of three possible roles for him this season.
“It’s down to him and his performances to get to that point and the first one is that he does so well that he starts in the games.
“That’s up to him. I would say that he needs to add those goals and assists to his game.
“We see pace, power and strength and sometimes it’s that final bit of composure in the final third that Mase (Mason Bennett) just needs to build on.
“The second option is that he comes off the bench as an impact player and fights for a place in the team.
“The third option is that he flits in between some of those and goes in and out of the squad. Again, I don’t think that is a bad option for a young player.
“He’s never too far from it and it’s all down to him. For me, in training, he has to have the attitude that he’s got to fight and claw his way into the first team.
“He can’t be too respectful. Maybe he’s got comfortable in the group and I have told him that maybe he’s got to have a lack of respect in training because he needs to fight for a place in the team.
“Saying that, I am very pleased with his progress. He’s played as much football this year than he has for a long time and he’s thoroughly deserved it.
“When you look at it too, he’s forced himself in front of some of the first team professionals.”
