Rotherham United boss Matt Hamshaw believes ex-Barnsley FC midfielder Josh Benson has 'huge potential'
Rotherham United manager Matt Hamshaw believes midfielder Josh Benson has “huge potential”.
A product of Arsenal and Burnley’s academies, Benson spent four years at Barnsley before making the switch to Rotherham last summer.
While undeniably talented, the cultured midfielder has seen his career hampered by injuries.
His start in Rotherham’s 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle at the weekend was only his 11th in League One this season, but his class on the ball helped to unravel the Pilgrims.
Josh Benson’s ‘huge potential’
Potential is not often a word used in relation to 26-year-olds, but Hamshaw believes Benson can push on.
“I think he's been an asset when he's been fully fit wherever he's been,” Hamshaw told The Yorkshire Post. “That's why he went for big money to Barnsley.
“We really liked him when we were here last time, when he was coming through at Burnley. We know he's got huge potential. We know he can be a very creative player.”
‘Character’ in midfield
Benson was deployed in the centre of midfield alongide Dru Yearwood against Plymouth. Both impressed, getting to grips with the gritty side of the game while also moving the ball with precision.
It was Benson’s teasing free-kick delivery that led to Rotherham’s decisive goal, as his whipped cross was only cleared as far as Yearwood.
The latter pulled the trigger and saw his effort flicked beyond Plymouth’s goalkeeper by Joe Rafferty.
Hamshaw said: “I've dropped him a bit deeper to get on the ball a bit more. I felt that we were just missing the midfield out and that isn’t a slant on anybody, but sometimes you just need that character and he's got that character.
“He'd want the ball in a bad area, he would, but I kind of like that about him as well.”