"I Think The Academy Are Doing Great Things For The Club"

It has been a whirlwind start to the season for academy graduate Mason Bennett.

After providing the assist for Tom Lawrence’s last gasp winner in the opening day victory over Reading last month, Bennett has blossomed in a Derby County shirt.

Some pulsating performances have followed, including another late assist for Florian Jozefzoon’s winner at Hull City last week, which propelled the Rams into the Sky Bet Championship’s top six ahead of the international break.

Following the game, manager Frank Lampard revealed his fondness for the attacker, something which Bennett’s teammates have not let him forget.

“Ever since Saturday, as soon as I got on the coach and I saw the manager’s comments on Twitter everyone was just battering me,” he joked in an interview with RamsTV.

“Even on Monday and Tuesday I was getting messages from the lads, pictures and stuff but it’s going to come.

“I’m flattered with the comments. That’s what you want to hear as a player if you are coming on and doing the bits for him then it’s nice to hear them comments.

“Ever since I signed for this club I always wanted to play a big part and make sure to make the impact and get the fans behind me.

“I’m really over the moon these past few weeks have gone so well and I’m getting the support off the fans, staff and players.”

Despite still only being 22 years of age, Bennett has evolved with the club. He signed for Derby County aged 11 and four years later would make his debut at the Riverside Stadium against Middlesbrough.

Bennett remains the youngest player to wear a Rams shirt and recalls his memories of that day.

“I got a phone call off Darren Wassall that morning, I had just had my breakfast and he said bring your boots, we are going to watch the first team,” he said.

“The gaffer wants you to do the warm up with the lads on the pitch, he told me. I thought there was something dodgy around it but I just got on with it.

“I went to the hotel to meet the lads for pre-match and they didn’t know why I was there. I got to the ground and on the teamsheet it said ‘Bennett’. Everyone came up to me and said good luck and be yourself.

“It felt a bit surreal but as soon as I got out there in front of the crowd and the atmosphere then it settles you down a bit in the first five minutes and then after that it was a normal game of football.”

Bennett hit the crossbar and was a threat throughout but in the days after his debut, focus switched back to the classroom.

“I just remember there was a big assembly and the head teacher telling all the other students about how you can make something of yourself, especially the area I’m from because there isn’t many success stories,” Bennett commented.

“It was nice but I didn’t really want that attention from everyone. I just wanted to get on with my life, school work and football privately.”

Fast forward seven years and Bennett is still having the same impact as day one. Pictures adorn the club’s training ground, match shirts hang inside frames and it serves as a reminder to the academy players at the moment they can reach their goals.

“I know the path the younger age groups go through,” he said. “I’m still at the club so they can see that I’m playing and doing well at the moment so I hope they look at that, take inspiration from it and kick on in their careers. I think the academy are doing great things for the club.”