Elliot Bennett believes Ben Brereton is making a “real impact” on loan at Blackburn Rovers despite his lack of goals. The 19-year-old left Nottingham Forest in August to join Rovers on a short-term deal until January 2019.
He’s been in and out of the side under Tony Mowbray this season and has yet to ripple the back of the net in any of his seven league appearances, but Bennett was still full of praise for his form.
As per Nottingham Live, the Rovers midfielder said: “Big Ben came on and got an assist and I’m delighted for him. When you sign for a new club you need things to go for you. Being a forward, that’s goals. But at this moment he’s coming off the bench and making a real impact.
“He won the penalty against QPR last week, got the assist against Rotherham and is helping the team. It’s great for him and if he keeps pushing and working hard then the gaffer will give him the chance of starting.”
Blackburn, incidentally, are only two places below Forest in the Championship. They sit ninth in the table with 26 points from 17 games, having won one and drawn two of their last three matches.
All seven of Brereton’s league outings with Blackburn have come from the bench, and sometimes he’s even been an unused substitute. Getting some first-team football can prove invaluable for a youngster regardless, however.
The England u20 international, who has scored and created 16 goals in 57 games for Forest, will surely hope his return to the City Ground leads him to stay in and around the senior squad. There will be stiff competition in attack from Lewis Grabban, Karim Ansarifard and Daryl Murphy, however.
