DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE striker Paul Benson has urged manager John Still to give Jon Nurse a chance alongside him when the season kicks off at Crewe Alexandra on August 8. Benson, who signed a new three-year deal with the club yesterday (Tuesday), had enjoye

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE striker Paul Benson has urged manager John Still to give Jon Nurse a chance alongside him when the season kicks off at Crewe Alexandra on August 8.

Benson, who signed a new three-year deal with the club yesterday (Tuesday), had enjoyed a prolific partnership alongside Ben Strevens in recent seasons.

But after Strevens joined League One Brentford, there is a spot available for one of Nurse, Josh Scott or Wesley Thomas to make a name for themselves this season.

"I like to play alongside someone whose game I know inside out, so at the moment, I would love to see 'Nursey' get a run," said Benson.

"I know him well, and I think that we could be a good partnership together, but if the gaffer decides that Josh Scott or Wesley Thomas are the men, then that is fine too.

"'Nursey's' problem is that he has been too honest! He has played all over the pitch, sometimes at right back, but he is a centre-forward and I hope he gets a chance."

Nurse has had a disappointing time in front of goal since joining from Stevenage Borough, scoring just six goals in 74 appearances, but the majority of those haven't been in his favoured centre-forward position.

He turned up at full back once when Danny Foster was injured, but Still wasn't revealing his starting line-up just yet.

"We have Josh Scott, who is suspended for the first game, and Wesley Thomas who has looked very sharp in training, while Jon Nurse's work-rate is fantastic, so there are options," said Still, who sees his side host Birmingham City tonight, and then Leyton Orient, 6-1 conquerors of Newcastle United, on Saturday.

"We've only played one real pre-season friendly, so the games against Newcastle and Orient will be good games.

"Although Newcastle will be disappointed and their fans will be disappointed that they were beaten by Orient, if they win the first game of the season, that is all forgotten, so results really don't matter too much in pre-season.