Malvind Benning ready to prove his worth at Walsall

The 19-year-old's rapid rise has seen him go from youth teamer to first-teamer in under a year.

He was handed a two-and-a-half year deal this month after just two senior starts as the Saddlers look to tie down their hottest prospects.

And he could keep his place for tomorrow's visit of Bournemouth – unbeaten in 15 League games – as League One's form teams go head-to-head.

An impressive outing in last Sunday's 3-1 win over Preston added to his burgeoning reputation but even Benning has been blindsided by his swift progress.

The teenager only signed professional terms last year and made his debut in the 4-1 defeat to Scunthorpe in November.

He said: "It's a big jump and I was surprised to get it this early. It's very rare for an opportunity like this to come around.

"Prior to my starts, I wasn't getting a sniff, I'd been on the bench a couple of times but there wasn't too much there.

"Then, when I got the opportunity, the gaffer saw I had taken the chances – and he will give me more."

Benning revealed manager Dean Smith called him into his office a couple of weeks after he had made his two starts.

The youngster said: "He told me I had been unlucky not to have been on the bench but he thought I had been doing really well – and he verbally offered me a new contract.

"It took about two or three weeks to get everything agreed. The manager wants me to kick on from this now and not sit back.

"Many players can take it too easy after getting contracts. So my main aim is to be in that left-back spot regularly.

"Andy Taylor is a good left-back, so it will be hard to gain that spot but I'll be trying my hardest.

"The target is to push and maintain my spot and from next season onwards, with this new contract, kick on and go further."

Benning follows Netan Sansara as an Asian Walsall left-back – Benning himself was born in Birmingham and is an Indian Sikh. Sansara made 30 appearances before being released in 2010.

And Benning, who has now made seven appearances, feels a degree of responsibility to be an example to more Asian players and encourage them to become professionals.

He said: "There aren't many Asians in the game but hopefully I can be a role model for them and bring more through.

"I haven't really had people coming up to me but I've had messages on Facebook and Twitter. They do look up to me, kind of, but there are more Asians who can get into the game as well – definitely.

"I was just getting my youth contract when Netan was here. I wanted to get to a professional level and, hopefully, play with him."

Benning has helped the Saddlers rise to 12th – five points behind Bournemouth who lost their first game on Tuesday – a 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Wigan – since Eddie Howe returned as manager in October.

Five wins from their last six games has propelled Walsall into the mid-table safety after flirting with the bottom four during a 13-match winless run in the league.

Their Sunday win at Deepdale moved them 15 points clear of the drop zone and just five away from the play-offs.

Victory over the Cherries could leave them on the brink of the top six – something which seemed unlikely at the start of last month.