Benny Benagr has admitted the last few weeks have been “a bit crazy” after the Luton youngster went from an academy prospect to scoring on his senior debut and signing a new deal, all within the space of just three weeks.
The 18-year-old Luton-born winger has signed a new contract with his hometown club after a remarkable introduction to first-team football, though boss Jack Wilshere says the deal was sealed even before his bow at Gillingham on Saturday.
Benagr was given a surprise call-up to Luton’s pre-season trip to Spain after receiving a message from academy chief Paul Benson just two hours before the squad was due to leave.
He went on to impress during pre-season before scoring on his competitive debut in Saturday’s 3-0 Carabao Cup victory at Gillingham.
“The last few weeks have been a bit crazy, but I’ve enjoyed it so much and I’m hungry to keep learning,” Benagr told the club’s website after signing his new deal.
The teenager revealed he had almost no time to prepare for his unexpected opportunity to travel with the first team to their pre-season training camp in Murcia, Spain.
“On the day we went to Spain, I woke up to a message from Benno to say that the first team want you to fly with them, and I had two hours to get ready and get to The Brache. It was a bit of a rush, but it was worth it,” he said.
His introduction to first-team life then became even more demanding the following morning, when Benagr took part in Luton’s Resilience Day.
“The following day, Resilience Day, was probably one of the toughest days I’ve ever had in my life, waking up so early, no breakfast, nothing. Just straight to work,” he said.
But the experience appears to have given the teenager an important perspective as he attempts to establish himself in senior football.
Benagr said “It’s worked though because it made me see everything in a different perspective; that I’m not always going to be at the front of the line if I’m doing runs, because I was at the back for most of it, and I struggled in some of the circuits. But it was all a great learning experience.”
The former Cardinal Newman student has been part of the Luton set-up since the age of six, initially coming through the Community Trust’s pre-academy before joining the club’s academy at Under-9 level.
Now, after signing his first new deal and making his senior debut, he is determined not to let his rapid rise change his approach.
“I’m thankful to every single coach I’ve had on my journey, because it’s been a long, tough journey,” he said.
“It’s a good feeling right now, but I’ve not got to get too far ahead of myself. I need to stay humble, stay grounded, because I don’t want to be one of those players who gets to this stage and thinks they’ve completed it.
“I haven’t completed it. I’ve still got a long way to go. I want to keep learning from all the coaches and great professionals who have welcomed me so much in the last few weeks. It’s only a good start.”
Benagr was joined by his mum Ellen and brother Ivan when he signed his new contract, with the pair having also been in the away end at Priestfield to watch his memorable debut.
His rise means he is the latest product of Luton’s academy to commit his future to the club, following close friend Christian Chigozie and Harry Fox.
And after a whirlwind few weeks, Benagr now has the chance to turn his dream start into the beginning of a first-team career at his hometown club.
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