Forest's first season back in the Championship promised so much but delivered nothing more than personal disappointment for the popular left back.
Injury problems restricted him to just 13 appearances with his season coming to an abrupt end against Doncaster on Boxing Day.
Bennett had just returned to action following a lengthy lay-off with a dislocated shoulder when he sustained a serious knee ligament injury in the festive fixture.
He was forced to undergo surgery and although he misses the start of this season, he's hoping it won't be too long before he's back in the thick of the action.
Bennett had played a key role in Forest's promotion from League One in 2008, culminating in him being named 'Player of the Year'.
Although born and brought up in The Meadows close to The City Ground, his route to the Forest first team was far from straight forward.
He was spotted by Forest at an early age but elected to leave the club's youth system as a 14 year old.
Walsall offered him the opportunity to launch his career in first team football. He made more than 50 appearances for The Saddlers - either at left back or in the centre of defence - before returning to his home-town club in January 2006.
His tough tackling, swash-buckling approach to the game have made him a firm favourite with Forest fans.

Forest debut: January 14, 2006 v Oldham Athletic (League 1)

My First.....

My first team... was Meadow Colts. I was a nine but played up an age group, while Wes Morgan was in the Under 11s. When everyone turned up we were a really good team. We won a few competitions, including the league we played in.
My first autograph... was Jason Lee when he was at Forest. I remember him turning up at an event at a community centre in The Meadows that I was at. He was the first footballer I had met face-to-face and I just had to get his autograph.
My first roommate... was Daryl Taylor at Walsall, although it didn't happen too often as the club didn't have the cash to be able to afford too many overnight stays.
My first influence... would have been my parents Robert and Barbara. They don't drive and couldn't take me here, there and everywhere to play football but they did as much as they possibly could by paying for bus fares and just being there for me. My mum used to run 'The Toll Bridge' pub on The Embankment and that's when I first got involved in Meadow Colts because they used to train nearby.
My first album... was 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson and I know I've still got it on tape.
My first league appearance... was for Walsall against against Wigan at The JJB Stadium. I came on a substitute for Matt Carbon and we drew 1-1. Ian Breckin was playing for Wigan and I remember marking him at a corner and finding out how good he is in the air.
My first position... was at the back. I've always regarded myself as a defender, either in the centre or at left back, although I did occasionally play in midfield or up front for the school team.
My first goal... was a diving header from a corner just inside the penalty area against Colchester for Walsall at The Bescot Stadium. There was a defender on the post and it flew past him into the top corner - I couldn't have placed it any better.
My first disappointment.... was leaving Forest when I was a schoolboy. I was 14 and still had a year or so left before the club decided whether they wanted to offer me Academy terms but things weren't right and I just felt I had to move on.
My first holiday abroad... was to Dieppe in France with the school but I honestly don't know how I managed it because I didn't have a passport back then!
My first game I went to... was the Umbro Cup at The City Ground in 1996. It was a two-day pre-season tournament when Forest were in the Premiership and Chelsea, Ajax and Manchester United were the other clubs involved.
My first pay packet... should have been £20 for delivering 1,000 leaflets around The Meadows. I was desperate to earn myself a bit of cash and delivered each and every one of them ... but I got stiffed and never saw a penny. My first pay packet in football was £42 as a YTS at Walsall.
My first car... was a Seat Ibiza. I bought it second hand and would like to say it had a low mileage when I got my hands on it but that wouldn't exactly be true.
My first league ground played on... would have been The City Ground when I was a schoolboy with Forest. The pitch was divided up into sections for the different age groups to train on.