ELLIOTT Bennett admits he is enjoying his football under Tony Mowbray but knows he faces a battle to keep his place in the Blackburn Rovers side.

Bennett endured a frustrating first half of the season which was hampered by injury, but has become a regular fixture in 2017.

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He has featured in 14 of Rovers’ last 17 games, missing two through suspension, while his goal against Preston on Saturday was his third long-range strike this calendar year.

But with Connor Mahoney, Liam Feeney and Craig Conway all competing for spots in the wide areas the 28-year-old knows he must continue to perform.

Of his start to 2017, Bennett said: “It’s been really good, I am enjoying it.

“The way the manager is looking for us to play with the wingers coming inside I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of games I’ve played.

“I’m just looking to work hard on the training ground and to stay in the team and achieve our main aim of staying up.

“You get frustrated when you’re not playing, that’s natural, but I’m not the type to sulk, I work hard in training and make sure that I’m ready if I do get called upon.

“I’ve been called upon of late and feel that, with the way I’ve trained and been around the place, that’s helped me to help the team and not look too far out of place.

“I just want to make sure that I can do all I can, whether that be on the pitch or supporting the lads, to make sure we stay up this season.”

Bennett missed games against Manchester United and Burton Albion through suspension after being sent off following the final whistle of Rovers’ controversial 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in February.

Bennett branded the suspension ‘silly’ and added: “It was something I should have not have got involved in”.

But he is now focussing on the positives with the former Norwich man believing the strong competition for places in the wide areas is boosting performances.

Mahoney has been used in all seven of Mowbray’s games in charge, while Feeney and Conway have been first team, regulars.

“That’s the way it should be,” said Bennett. “Feens has played a lot of games and done well and young Connor has been a real, real bright spark for us.

“You have to do well but when you’re playing you’re not focussing on who’s on the bench, you are just hoping to do your bit to help the team and then when the manager think it’s someone else’s chance to go and cause havoc then it’s his decision to do that.”

Rovers are in the middle of a two week break from action before back-to-back away trips to Brighton and Reading.

And the midfielder is hoping that Rovers will bear the fruits of two weeks work on the training ground ahead of the crucial remaining eight games.

“We can now really implement what he’s asking of us,” Bennett added.

“The work was different straight away – he’s got a clear idea of the way he wants his team to play.

“You have to buy in to that and if you don’t then you don’t play, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s been a big change since he first came in, but hopefully that can continue and hopefully we can work hard on the training ground and really push forward in the next eight games.”