Born-again Bennett eyes Euro glory

MARK BENNETT now has his sights set on helping Edinburgh progress to the European Challenge Cup knock-out stages after making a successful return to action.

The 24-year-old Scotland centre was named man of the match on Friday as the capital side made it ten wins from 12 games by defeating the Southern Kings 37-7 in the Guinness Pro14 at Myreside.

It was his Edinburgh debut and a first outing of any sort since March last year when he suffered a serious knee injury playing against England.

And Bennett wants to make up for lost time by helping Edinburgh win their Challenge Cup pool to reach the last eight. Ahead of the first of two clashes against Stade Francais at home on Friday, Bennett said: ‘A win in that game and we’re guaranteed a quarter-final.

‘It would also put us in a great place to go over to France the following week and hopefully get a home quarter-final. It’s all to play for in the next couple of weeks — exciting times.

‘I just want to get a run of games and get match fit. As much as it went okay on Friday, I was tired and my calves were ready to go at the end.

‘I got through it, which was the main thing from that game. And I’ll be looking to build up that match sharpness in the next few weeks.

‘I’m like a kid at Christmas at the minute, though, because I got a run out with the boys.’

Bennett admits that he will have a different role to play at Edinburgh than he did at his previous club Glasgow.

At the Warriors he was the young guy learning from experienced players, now he hopes to bring through some of Edinburgh’s talented backs.

‘It’s different now,’ he explained. ‘At Glasgow, I was the youngster in that backline but not at Edinburgh.

‘I’ve found it weird being one of the older, more experienced boys but it gives me a chance to be a bit more of a leader.’