Sheffield Wednesday: Left-back Joe eyes Owls home debut in key derby

Loanee Joe Bennett is itching to make his Hillsborough debut in Wednesday's crunch South Yorkshire showdown with Rotherham United this weekend.

Bennett has made just two starts since arriving on loan from Premier League basement battlers Aston Villa on January 19.

But the 25-year-old enhanced his reputation with an assured performance last time out against promotion rivals Hull City.

First-choice left-back Daniel Pudil is pressing for a first-team recall after being left out at the KC Stadium, but Bennett hopes he has done enough to keep his place in the side.

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Bennett told The Star: “I’m looking forward to Rotherham. It is not as big as the Sheffield United game but it is still massive. Rotherham are fighting at the other end of the table so they need the points just as much as we do. It will be a good derby and hopefully I will be able to keep my spot and show the home fans what I can do. I haven’t played at Hillsborough yet but hopefully I can help the team get three points.

“There are no easy games in the Championship and we have got to replicate the performance we put in at Hull.”

He was pleased with his contribution in the Hull draw.

“I literally found out at the team meeting a couple of hours before the game I was playing,” Bennett revealed. “I haven’t played much this season but I thought I did well. We defended really well as a team and it was a good point.

“We knew it was going to be tough at Hull because they are doing well. It’s tight at the top but they are the favourites to go up along with Middlesbrough and Burnley.

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“The main objective was to keep a clean sheet. We knew it was going to be difficult at Hull because they are flying at the moment.

“We can take a lot of confidence as they are the form team in the division. Apart from them hitting the post and a couple of half chances, I don’t think Hull really caused us that many problems. I think we could have kept the ball a bit better in the second half but other than that we did well.”

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