JEWISON BENNETTE is hoping his World Cup experience with Costa Rica will mean he is a better player when he returns to the North-East to help Sunderland in the second half of the season.

Despite only having turned 18 in the summer, Bennette has been named in Costa Rica’s 26-man squad in Qatar and is in strong contention to start his nation’s opening Group E fixture against Germany on Thursday evening.

The teenager has produced some eye-catching cameos in a Sunderland shirt, most notably when coming off the bench to score a dramatic equaliser in September’s 2-2 draw at Watford, but Tony Mowbray continues to regard him as a work in progress.

Bennette feels he is gradually settling into life in England, and is hoping the experience of playing at a World Cup finals will mark another notable step in his footballing development.

“I hope to improve my game a lot,” said the Black Cats youngster. “It’s there where you realise exactly where your level is at, playing with the best players, who play at the best clubs in the world. So, I’m very happy and I’m going to give it my all.

“I’m very happy and very proud. It was a dream I had since I was a child (to play at a World Cup). I used to watch it on TV, and now I have the chance to experience one and I’m very pleased and to do it in the best way possible, it’s a top-level competition and we have to be ready for what’s to come.”

Since Bennette signed in the final week of the summer transfer window, an occasional Costa Rican flag has been popping up at the Stadium of Light, or in the away end when Sunderland have been on their travels.

Bennette’s father, who is also called Jewison and who is a former professional player himself, is his son’s biggest supporter and has temporarily relocated to Wearside to help him settle in, and both father and son are hoping Costa Rica will attract some North-East support as they attempt to negotiate a difficult group that also features Spain and Japan.

“It makes me very happy to see that other people can see the effort that you’re putting in and the results of your hard work,” said Bennette. “I think it's very touching to see fans’ stories with the Costa Rican flags and the Costa Rica shirts, at the games, at half-time. It's very special to me.”

The Northern Echo:

Bennette has headed to the World Cup with Sunderland in 15th position in the Championship table, and he is anticipating further progress on his return.

“I feel that we have a very good team which is good enough to fight and be up there in the league,” he said, in an interview with Sunderland’s official website. “We are going to work hard for every game to be able to win as many matches as we can."