ELLIOTT Bennett believes the increased competition for places at Ewood Park can help bring the best out of the Rovers squad as they seek a first league win of the season.

Bennett has played every minute of Rovers’ opening three games, having also completed 90 minutes in four of the six pre-season friendlies.

But with Bradley Dack, Ben Gladwin and Craig Conway nearing full fitness, and Liam Feeney and Harry Chapman also waiting in the wings, Bennett knows he can’t take his place for granted.

And he hopes that can inspire the players to a first League One success at Bradford on Saturday.

The midfielder said: “It’s not just about turning up knowing you are going to play, you have to be at it all week to make sure you’re in the starting XI because the gaffer has a wealth of choices to pick from.”

“There are loads of options and that’s what the gaffer wanted to create.”

And Bennett is determined to keep his place in the side.

“I don’t want a rest – I have just had seven weeks off,” Bennett joked.

“I love playing football, I will play every minute if I can.

“I just hope that I can stay fit, train hard, and then give my all on a Saturday and a Tuesday.

Rovers have opened their League One campaign with successive defeats to Southend United and Doncaster Rovers.

Midfielder Bennett offered no excuses after the disappointing display, and result, against Doncaster, but shares boss Tony Mowbray’s confidence that the players can turn things around.

“There’s no beating around the bush,” the 28-year-old added. “Sometimes when you’re not favourites you talk about taking it game by game, that’s not what it is for us, we know the job in hand.

“The sooner we can get that first win on the board I’m sure we will start to string a few wins and performances together.

“I said on Saturday, there are no excuses for losing games, I’m not a believer in making excuses up, but we have signed a lot of players, it’s a new league, everyone is adapting, but once that happens and we all click, the cup win at Coventry showed we can do what the manager is looking to implement and hopefully we can take that in to the league.”

Rovers travel to the Coral Windows Stadium looking to be the first team to win at Bradford in the regular League One season since March 2016.

Millwall won in West Yorkshire in the play-offs in May, but the Bantams went the entire 2016/17 league season at home unbeaten, winning 11 and drawing 12.

“There’s not an easy game in any league, wherever you play,” Bennett added.

“In cup games you see teams going to lower opposition teams and lose games. 

“It’s 11 men against 11 men, they want to win as much as you do and it’s about bringing your quality on the day and matching whatever else comes with that in the game.”