Elliott Bennett, a regular under Tony Mowbray, celebrated his 50th start for Blackburn in the win over Rotherham – he followed that up with a new contract.
On Thursday, Bennett put pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at Ewood Park until 2020, at least.
Talks over this new deal had been ongoing for a while but until he signed this Rovers ran the risk of losing the forward on a free transfer at the end of the season. However, a ‘delighted’ Bennett insists there wasn’t ever a thought about moving on.
‘I’m delighted. We’ve been speaking about it for a little bit now and I’m just delighted that it’s finally signed and I can commit my future to the club,’ Bennett told the Official Website.
Adding: ‘Once I sat down with the gaffer and we had a chat, it was never my intention to leave at the end of the season.’
Bennett’s played his part in helping Blackburn steadily climb the table into a top six place and, as we look to put the disappointment of Championship relegation last season behind us, playing a part in helping us to instant promotion is his aim.
He said: ‘I was part of the bad season we had last year and I want to be part of a great season this year, which hopefully culminates in us getting promoted. That’s everyone’s aim.’
Meanwhile, teenage striker Daniel Butterworth also signed a deal.
Butterworth, 18, is starting out his professional career and his maiden contract at Ewood will also take him through until 2020.
The former Manchester United youngster, who swapped the Red Devils for Blackburn during the 2015-16 season, has impressed coming through the U18s into the U23 side to feature and score regularly under Damien Johnson.
Commenting on the deal he told the Official Website: ‘It’s a great feeling. Getting your first professional football contract is something that everyone wants, so it’s good to get it done early. Now I can focus on football and hopefully progress. I want to progress here at Blackburn, it’s such a big club and I’m the youngest in the Under-23s so it’s great that the coaches have shown faith in me. Hopefully now I can progress into the first team.’
