HIGHLIGHTS
- Sammie Szmodics saved Blackburn Rovers from relegation with his goal-scoring prowess, winning the Championship golden boot in the process.
- Despite limited playing time, Connor O’Riordan is expected to have a more prominent role in the upcoming 2024/25 season with Rovers.
- Blackburn boss John Eustace is determined to keep O’Riordan at the club, believing in his potential and viewing him as a key player for the future.
Despite enduring a tough 2023/24 Championship campaign, Blackburn Rovers secured their second tier status with a 2-0 victory over newly crowned champions Leicester City.
Ewood Park has played witness to a difficult season which saw former boss Jon Dahl Tomasson leave the club via mutual consent back in February.
But Rovers were able to stave off the threat of relegation thanks to the goalscoring exploits of Ireland international Sammie Szmodics, who scored on 27 occasions, earning himself the Championship golden boot.
Fittingly, it was Szmodics who managed to guide his club to safety by bagging a brace at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon, including an insurance goal in the 94th minute.
Other than the impressive performances of the Irishman, there have been very few sparks for the Lancashire outfit this campaign, but the signing of former Crewe starlet Connor O’Riordan back in January could bode well for the future at Rovers.
Since arriving at the club, the 20-year-old has only made two appearances, which were both from the substitute’s bench back in February during a win over Stoke, and a loss to now-relegated Birmingham.
| Connor O’Riordan lack of minutes at Blackburn (FotMob) | |
|---|---|
| Starts | 0 |
| Appearances | 2 |
| Minutes played | 40 |
Amid O’Riordan’s lack of first team minutes at Rovers, Alan Nixon reported via Patreon that the Ewood Park side were weighing up the option of deploying the youngster put on loan this summer, but the Lancashire Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that Blackburn boss John Eustace is keen on keeping the defender.
Eustace transfer stance on O’Riordan revealed
The Lancashire Telegraph have reported that Blackburn boss Eustace has no intention of allowing the ace to leave the club this summer, and back in March he told the outlet: “The club wouldn’t have signed him if they didn’t think he could have a big future.
“The club have done their homework on the players and I believe Connor will have a big future at this club.”
Prior to joining Rovers, the Crewe academy product made 23 League Two appearances during the first half of the 2023/24 season, scoring on three occasions.
The 2024/25 season could provide O’Riordan with more first team minutes
Since O’Riordan lacked Championship experience before joining Rovers, it would have been risky for Eustace to immediately involve him in a relegation battle. However, now that the team has secured their place in the Championship for the 2024/25 season, there’s more optimism, and O’Riordan could see more playing time in the starting lineup.
The arrival of Kyle McFadzean from Coventry City in January suggested that O’Riordan wouldn’t be a regular starter during challenging times. Eustace expressed a desire to retain McFadzean, indicating that he might partner with O’Riordan in the upcoming season. With McFadzean’s extensive experience of over 600 senior appearances, he could provide O’Riordan with mentorship and guidance, even though O’Riordan was not part of the main squad this season.
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