SOUTHEND United midfielder Jon Benton made his first senior start for the Shrimpers in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Yeovil Town.

Benton, who had previously made four substitute appearances for Blues, was selected in the centre of the park at Huish Park.

And Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher was happy to hand Benton his chance, albeit in testing circumstances.

“In an ideal world he would come into a team full of confidence playing free-flowing football and we get him on the ball,” said Maher.

“But he had to do a bit of graft as well and out of possession he had to press.

“He’s still got lots to learn in terms of position and what we want but I’m delighted for him to get a start.

“It won’t do him any harm at all and it’s good to have him pushing.”

And Maher also feels other youngsters are at the club are capable of pushing their way into his plans.

“We’ve got one or two other young ones we really think highly of as well,” said Maher.

“The standard of them is better than it has been for a long time.”

Benton played 70 minutes of Saturday’s win at Yeovil and helped Blues end a run of seven successive defeats.

The 21-year-old has been with the Shrimpers since the age of eight and has enjoyed successful spells out on loan with both Braintree Town and Aveley.

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