Following protracted negotiations, Rovers have today announced that veteran midfielder Stewart Downing has a new one-year deal to extend his Rovers career, after his initially extended deal expired on the midnight of Wednesday 22nd July.
The one-time England international, who celebrated his 36th birthday on the final day of the 2019-20 season, has signed a fresh set of terms that will see him remain at Ewood Park until the end of the 2020-21 season.
Downing, who has been a revelation within Tony Mowbray’s midfield, missed only five of the 46 league games throughout the prolonged 2019-20 season whilst impressing the Rovers faithful with his quality on the ball and his clever footballing brain, which was shown by the 89 key passes he provided throughout the season, which was the sixth highest in the whole division.
Despite scepticism surrounding his age following his arrival last summer, the former Liverpool midfielder managed to endear himself to the Rovers faithful by showing the class that Mowbray enlisted Downing to supply. Although he was predominantly used in a wide midfield role, Downing’s versatility to play in a holding midfield role alongside Lewis Travis, in the hole behind the main striker or even at left-back showed his quality as he provided two goals and eight assists from a variety of positions within the Rovers team. Furthermore, following the ‘touch-and-go’ situation regarding the COVID-19 situation, Downing’s addition to this year’s squad may prove invaluable in the long-term.
After putting pen-to-paper on his new deal, Downing – who will carry the #6 on his back this campaign – spoke with the club’s media team to reflect on why he decided to return to Ewood Park;
“I would have liked to have get the deal done earlier, in order to get to know the new lads, but it wasn’t to be. Now I’m here, I have to work on regaining my fitness in order to fight for a place in the team. I always wanted to come back, because I had a really good time here. I spoke to the gaffer after the final game of last season and said that if a return wasn’t to be, I might stop playing and move into something else, but I personally wanted to extend my stay as I was enjoying my time here, both on and off the field, because the manager and players were all good with me and this was the only place I wanted to play my football at. I wanted to come back because I can see the team’s ambitions, the squad is very strong when everybody’s fit and I’m excited about this season. I had talks with other clubs, but the gaffer here had a lot to deal with and it wasn’t looking likely that I was returning, but the manager has bent over backwards to get me in, so credit has to be given to him, which I appreciate.
“The foundations were in-place last season for the team to evolve into how they’re playing this season, but that of course, takes time. The club’s transfer window was brilliant, and I was sat at home wondering how I’d even get into the team, if I signed at all, because that’s how good the window was. The calibre of players that came in were top drawer, but it’s just a case of getting everybody fit and avoiding any COVID problems. It’s still early days in terms of the league table and I think we’re capable of going on a good run once everyone’s back fit. Last season, we had a couple of big injuries and we were a bit light on numbers, whereas now I think we’re strong because I think the strength in depth is crucial. I’m not match fit yet, but I think I’ve come in at the right time given we’ve got an international break soon which will allow me time to get up to speed.”
