Millwall attacker not getting any kicks from injury record – and now looks set to adapt his game

Millwall attacker Mason Bennett has admitted he might need to modify his game slightly in a bid to avoid his stop-start season.

The 25-year-old made a big impact in his 45-minute run-out in Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Reading.

Bennett has missed nine of the opening 16 Championship matches and played just 144 minutes. In the 2020-21 campaign the former England U19 international made 41 appearances, 37 of those in the league.

“It’s been nothing I can control,” Bennett told the South London Press about his battle for fitness.

“If it was muscle injuries it would be different but instead they are impact ones – people keep kicking me.

“I’m not going to change my game a lot but it’s something I’ll need to look at. I need to move the ball quicker when I’ve got it and not invite players in – be sharp and get around them.

“The first two or three months of this season haven’t been the greatest, because of injury. I kept getting back and getting niggles. It’s been frustrating. I was in a good place in pre-season and so to get the ankle injury [against Ipswich] hit me for six.

“But it was great to finally get back out on the pitch at The Den and with all the fans back – I got a crack at a significant period of the game.

“All I can do is show what I can do when I get out on the pitch.”

Bennett came through the ranks at Derby County,  tomorrow’s opponents. The Rams are rock bottom of the table due to their 12-point deduction for going into administration.

“I was there a long time and I hope they can get out of it [the bottom three],” said Bennett. “It is still doable, but at the weekend I want three points for us.

“They are not going to come and roll over. We are going to have to stamp our authority.”