Dilan Markanday wants to continue Blackburn’s career as Rohan Luthra takes issue with Cardiff and Neil Taylor vows to play on | Football news
Blackburn attacking midfielder Dilan Markanday says he is desperate to show everyone what he’s up to next term after the biggest roller coaster season of his career.
Markanday, 20, made history for Spurs in the Europa Conference League away game at Vitesse last season, becoming the first South Asian player in Tottenham’s history to come on as a second-half substitute at The Gelredome.
However, the Barnet-born striker has decided to prioritize playing for the first team, completing a January move to Blackburn – who have just appointed Danish legend Jon Dahl Tomasson as Tony Mowbray’s successor – only injured his hamstring after an impressive game. Launch Sky Bet Championship for Rovers vs Hull.
But Markanday’s dedication to his rehabilitation allowed him to recover earlier than expected, and the Hindu-Punjabi striker showed up in 23 minutes. let Rovers go at Birmingham City to end his season in high form.
When asked if he is targeting next season as a breakout campaign, Markanday said Sky Sports News: “That’s what I wanted to happen, that’s why I came to the club. Obviously, things didn’t go as planned at first because of the injury, but I feel like this season, I really being able to go on and show the fans, the club and show the young kids what I can do and inspire them.
“I’ve had some time away just to rest. Obviously, it’s been a tough six months so mentally, I need a break to clear things up. I definitely feel refreshed, traumatised. My injury feels good and I just want to make an impression at the club, with the new manager and the fans – hopefully, I can do that.
“I’m really enjoying it here,” added Markanday, who is speaking at a South Asian Talent ID competition organized by Blackburn Rovers in association with the PFA.
“People are really friendly so I’ve settled in really well to be fair.”
Taylor: I’ll keep playing
Neil Taylor is a 43 Welsh international
Neil Taylor wants to continue playing for the next few seasons after his contract with Middlesbrough expires.
Taylor joined Boro for the remainder of last season after spending the previous three years at Aston Villa. The full-back, whose mother is Bengali, is one of the oldest South Asian players in English football.
Speaking at Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, at an event to help boost representation and academy involvement, Taylor told Sky Sports News: “I still want to play for another year or two.
“I can’t tell you where, there’s no exclusivity, but I want to keep playing.”
Former Swansea left-back Taylor started 17 games for Boro in the second half of last season. He made 43 appearances for Wales and last played at international level in 2019.
Based on Sun, The 33-year-old has received offers from Azerbaijani side FC Baku, with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir and Indian Super League sides East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan also wanting to sign him.
Luthra squid new deal
England youngster goalkeeper Rohan Luthra has penned a two-year contract extension with the Bluebirds.
Luthra made history when Cardiff visited Reading in Sky Bet Championship earlier this year when he became the first goalkeeper of South Asian heritage to take a place on the bench in English football’s top two leagues.
The west Londoner continued to come on as a substitute in Cardiff’s last six Championship games.
Before joining Cardiff, Luthra spent 11 years at Crystal Palace, where he made his debut for the club’s Under-18 team at the age of 15.
Luthra is a former student of Croydon Whitgift School, where he spent two years on the team with Chelsea and England winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. The pair have successively won the National Independent Schools Football League Cup, with Luthra keeping a clean sheet and Hudson-Odoi scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win in the 2014 final.
‘Luthra helps football connect with South Asians’
Sikh-Punjabi goalkeeper Dev Singh Bhamra told Sky Sports News:
“Rohan is a quality player and he’s still a kid compared to goalkeepers. He has a lot to learn, give and bask in like a sponge for the next 10 years when you hit it. be a goalkeeper at 27, 28, 29. That’s the best part of being a goalkeeper, the longevity of your career.
Rohan Luthra was joined by his family as he signed for Cardiff
“His success helps football connect with a lot more South Asians and he will help build that foundation, which will hopefully lead to even more people following him in the waves. giving everyone from South Asia a sense of pride.
“It makes you proud to do what you do, whether it’s the pitch in the park, the academy or a development team. Whatever your age or any range as a player sport or a player from South Asia, you would now see Rohan as a prime example of perseverance and consistency.
“No matter where you come from or what you do, if you work hard enough, you can really get where he’s been. And like I said, that’s just the beginning.”
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