Boss praises returning midfielder’s impact as new striker signs Benjamin was ‘best player on pitch’ in draw at York
LIAM Watson praised the impact of summer signing Russell Benjamin following Southport’s 1-1 draw with York City on Saturday.
Benjamin, 27, returned to Haig Avenue at the beginning of August six years after his previous stint with the club ended.
“I’ve got to say Russell was 100%, a country mile the best player on the pitch today,” the former AFC Telford boss reflected.
“It was so easy. He had the responsibility of marking [Kieran] Green, who to me is York’s biggest threat.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Russ and how good he’s been since he walked back through the door.
“People forget how good he was. It’s a nice little reminder of what a talent we have got.”
Southport have already racked up 10 games this term and Watson hit-out at the ‘bonkers’ early-season fixture scheduling.
“It’s just a ridiculous amount of games you have to play at the start of the season,” he added.
“You have your pre-season and then played 25% of your season a week into September.
“We don’t have a midweek fixture now until December. It just defies logic. Does no thought go into player welfare?
“The start of the season, you’re getting into it, you actually need more rest. To just
throw us into the run the league does is just bonkers for me.”
The Southport manager confirmed Morgan Homson-Smith will miss the next several weeks through injury while midfielders Paddy Lacey and Andy Parry are close to returning.
Reagan Ogle is also available for the visit of Blyth Spartans this weekend after being rested as a precautionary measure at York.
Watson has also wrapped up the signing of striker George Newell this week in a bid to bolster his attacking options.
“George is a hard-working striker with an eye for goal,” the boss said of the former Everton and Bolton star, 22.
“He’s got a lot of ability and is at a really good age, so he’s an exciting signing for us.
“George will bring a lot to the team and it’s even better that he is a local lad. I’m very pleased to have him on board and he’ll complement what we already have in the squad.”
George, a local lad born in Formby and the son of former Everton and Blackburn Rovers striker Mike Newell, has also had time with AFC Fylde and Albion Rovers.
Newell was at Everton from the age of 12, moving through the ranks before spending two years at Bolton, where he progressed from the U21 side into the first-team squad.
He spent the first half of the 2016/17 season on loan at AFC Fylde before moving to Motherwell at the start of the following campaign. He spent two years north of the border, playing an important role in Albion’s good form at the end of last season.