Mason Bennett: Derby boss Nigel Clough in no rush to let striker go

Derby County boss Nigel Clough says he will not be sending 17-year-old striker Mason Bennett out on loan imminently as he needs him at Pride Park.

Bennett has come on as a substitute twice this season and scored his first league goal in the 5-1 win at Millwall.

He became Derby's youngest scorer last term, netting as a 16-year-old against Tranmere, and Clough said "one or two clubs" wanted him on loan.

"He's not going anywhere at the moment," Clough told BBC Radio Derby.

"He is in the 18 and we only have a bare 18. Maybe [he can go out on loan] later in the season but we can see us using him in the next few weeks."

If and when England Under-17 regular Bennett is loaned out, Clough said he wants it to be with a team close to the Derby area so Bennett can commute rather than live away from home.

"We don't want him going too far if he did go somewhere at 17 years old," Clough added. "It's early days yet and we need him more so that is the first priority.

"He will need a bit more than what we can probably give him at the moment. but we need to keep him around.

"I think he would get in to any League Two side but League One teams would probably take him too."