Blackburn Rovers: John Eustace can mastermind Tyrhys Dolan u-turn if trajectory continues

Blackburn Rovers: John Eustace can mastermind Tyrhys Dolan u-turn if trajectory continues

Although Tyrhys Dolan’s future at Blackburn Rovers has seemed certain, the team’s extraordinary success this season may provide John Eustace the chance to persuade the winger to change his mind.

Blackburn barely made it through the previous season and were predicted to suffer even more due to ongoing off-field problems and the departure of Sammie Szmodics, the Championship’s top scorer who scored 27 league goals to win a transfer to Ipswich Town.

But it’s safe to say that Eustace’s team has been a true surprise this time around, and they don’t appear to be slowing down either.

After enduring mixed early-season form, Blackburn have won their last six consecutive matches, beating off shock potential rivals in Leeds United and Middlesbrough while conceding just once in the process – against 21st-placed Cardiff City.

They chalked up their sixth straight league victory by defeating Luton Town 2-1 at Ewood Park on Saturday, which has lifted them up to fifth place and just five points off the automatic promotion slots.

Few would have predicted promotion contention – and certainly not automatic promotion contention for that matter – but one must now wonder if Blackburn’s form at the top end of the table could prompt Dolan into a change of stance regarding his complicated contractual situation.

Tyrhys Dolan’s Blackburn Rovers contract situation

The 22-year-old winger, who has been a mainstay in the Rovers first-team for the last five seasons, has generally impressed this season, even if the goals and assists haven’t quite been produced to compensate for Szmodics’ exit.

He’s currently on two goals and two assists apiece after 18 appearances, all but two of which have been starts.

Nonetheless, he’s a key player for the side and that’s exactly why Eustace is so eager to keep him in Lancashire beyond the expiration of his contract, which is currently set to run down at the end of the season.

However, a deal has not yet been reached, and it is anticipated that Dolan will weigh his options in the summer and depart as a free agent. The Lancashire Telegraph claims that Blackburn has been in “prolonged discussions” over new terms for well over a year.

Because the forward is older, Blackburn would be compensated, albeit it would obviously not be as much as what the team could want in the trade market.

Even though it doesn’t seem that Dolan is getting any closer to staying, Eustace hasn’t given up yet and recently stated that he’s still attempting to keep him on board.

Eustace stated: “I believe it would really benefit the football team.

“As a young player, Ty has gained a great deal of experience. Up until now, he has served the club admirably. We must retain our best players if we hope to develop and continue to grow.

“Ty is in that bracket up there. Retaining him would make a major statement. I believe that the way the entire team plays and performs makes it obvious to me how they are all.

“They and I are both totally dedicated to the team. I want every player to stay and compete for a spot on the club. The key is competition for spots.

“We want to keep as many players as we can here. I have been in for coming up to 10 months and you can see the progression in the group. They’re improving and it is my job to develop the players who are here as well as get results.

“I think for both parties, it would be great (to know by January). We as a group, staff and players, want to improve this football club and keeping our best players is part of that. We also want to bring good players to give those players who have really performed a boost as well.

“It’s important to invest in the right areas and compete in the right areas with a very good squad. I am confident (to keep him) but it’s out of my hands. I want the boy to stay.

“He’s a fantastic lad and he’s fantastic to work with. We have to get that level of consistency from him week in, week out but we have to remember he is 22.

“He’s growing and long may that continue. There’s a lot of talent there and he’s a young player. We have to remember, losing Sam Szmodics last year with 30-odd goals, someone has to step up. Ty has tried to take that mantle on and he’s enjoying the responsibility. In the second half of the season, I’d expect him to score and create more goals.”

Blackburn Rovers form could help John Eustace to strike Tyrhys Dolan contract u-turn

Many Rovers supporters have seemingly established an acceptance that Dolan will depart at the end of the season, although Eustace is still holding out optimism and he’ll no doubt be hoping the club’s promotion push can prompt a rethink.

Given their present performance, Blackburn is capable of ending the season in the top six and is also very close to making a serious run for an automatic slot.

Naturally, maintaining this kind of performance during the holiday season and beyond will be difficult, but Blackburn must be considered serious candidates if they can remain in the playoffs by the beginning of the new year.

Their prospects of keeping Dolan, who did seem slim but might be given life by a promotion push, might be greatly improved by that alone.

Consistency has been a problem for Dolan, despite his obvious skill, and he might be persuaded to sign if he were to join a new team that is now in a better league position than Rovers currently is.

It is impossible to overlook the carrot-on-a-stick of possible Premier League play the following season, and that is exactly what Eustace and Blackburn’s senior decision makers should be offering to retain him at Ewood.

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