Rovers have made it two in two in terms of contract extensions after they announced that fans’ favourite, Tyrhys Dolan, became the second player this week to sign a new three-and-a-half year deal at Rovers. The deal also includes a trigger to extend the deal by a further 12 months, meaning the deal could go up until the summer of 2025.
The 19-year old former Preston North End academy winger, who has joined Rovers academy graduate John Buckley in extending their stays at the club, has captured the ‘hearts and minds’ of Rovers supporters both, on and off the pitch with his silky skills and his compassion.
After swapping Deepdale for Ewood Park in the summer, on a free transfer, after being deemed ‘not good enough’ for North End’s first team, Rovers quickly swooped in to snap up the then-18-year old on a two-year deal, however his impressive performances, which included numerous goals and assists has seen him rewarded with an extension to his initial deal.
After being released by Manchester City in 2017, Dolan found himself plying his trade in Preston’s youth squads where he became a relative thorn in Rovers’ side, as he scored and assisted in two games against Rovers last campaign. Those notable performances stuck in the minds of Rovers’ recruitment staff and gaffer Tony Mowbray, which led to the club snapping the youngster up, after Preston released him last summer, due to their lack of a development squad. Bouncing back from two rejections, Dolan became determined to prove his doubters wrong, at Ewood Park, as he impressed enough in pre-season in order to earn a spot on the bench for Rovers’ opening day 3-2 defeat, away at Bournemouth. Despite making a short cameo, Dolan impressed enough for him to start the next game, which was a 5-0 home victory at home to Wycombe Wanderers, in which he scored and assisted for the first time in his professional career. The youngster’s fine form continued into the next game where he opened the scoring for Rovers in their 4-0 away win over Derby County, however since then Dolan has found starting opportunities limited due to the varying form of the side.
Despite not starting a league game since the 0-0 home draw with Middlesbrough in early November, Dolan has remained a key fixture in the Rovers squad and his contributions off the bench was epitomised when he secured Rovers’ third goal against Preston North End, at Deepdale as the former North End player secured Rovers’ bragging rights by sealing the 3-0 victory. His solid displays have seen him pick up two assists since: at Brentford for Jacob Davenport’s late equaliser and at Birmingham City, for Bradley Dack’s first goal since his return from injury. Despite his last start being in January in Rovers’ disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers, which came in the FA Cup, Dolan has shown on more than one occasion, that he has the knowhow, skills and pace that playing in the Championship requires.
The winger, who is the only Rovers player this season, to have been part of every matchday squad, has not let tragic off the field events curtail his football career, yet he has also used his platform to help and encourage others who may, not only be feeling the brunt of the current worldwide situation, but may also be struggling with their mental health, which is incredibly commendable and something young Tyrhys must be praised for.
After being welcomed into the Rovers family with open arms, Tyrhys will no doubt be looking to build on the faith that has been shown in him, with this new deal, and will want to repay the faith of the club and the supporters. It will be interesting to monitor his progression over the next couple of seasons where he will undoubtedly go from strength to strength in Rovers’ Blue and White halves!
