After six months on the sidelines through injury, Josh Benson is nearing a return to first team action having featured regularly for our U21s in recent weeks.
The midfielder completed his first 90 minutes in our young Reds’ 3-1 triumph over Coventry City on Tuesday afternoon, registering an assist for Aaron Atkinson in an accomplished display at Oakwell.
“It’s brilliant to be back out there,” smiled Benson. “I’m feeling it a bit in the legs, but it’s a full 90 in the tank. I had a few minutes last week and the week before that, so hopefully I’m available now for the first team squads so I can make an impact in games when they need me.”
Benson has been in three of the past five matchday squads – included for the first time on the bench as we secured a 4-2 victory at Wycombe Wanderers.
Although he is yet to feature since overcoming this lengthy setback, the 24-year-old insists he is in decent condition and ready to make his mark when called upon.
“It’s been frustrating not being able to get on because I’ve been wanting to make an impact,” he continued. “Obviously, I haven’t been fully fit – I haven’t played in six months, that was my first 90.
“I’m feeling good; I’ve had a few under 21s games now, so I’m feeling good.”
Having suffered an agonising injury at Wembley, Benson missed the first month of the campaign before making his return in our EFL Trophy clash with Grimsby Town – naturally laying on a goal for Aiden Marsh.
He was just starting to find a bit of rhythm once more but hobbled from the pitch at Pride Park just six minutes after being introduced as a second half substitute.
“I felt good; it’s the best my legs had felt in a while,” he recalled. “I came back from an ankle injury in the play-offs last year and my legs felt good; it was just a freak pop of my quad five minutes in.
“I’d done a big warm up, but it’s just one of those things that happen in football. It just seems to have happened to me a lot over the last two years.”
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