Todd Cantwell joined Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2024, but after two years the skipper may be on his way out.
Blackburn Rovers are currently 19th in the Championship and fighting for safety. However, a 3-1 away win at QPR on Saturday boosted their survival hopes.
It was the first game of the Michael O’Neill era. The Northern Irish boss was appointed until the end of the season on Friday.
The Lancashire team have struggled this season and took the decision to part ways with Valerien Ismael on deadline day.
It was Ismael who handed Todd Cantwell the captaincy of Blackburn Rovers after the summer departure Lewis Travis. But what does the future hold for the skipper now that Ismael is gone?
Todd Cantwell’s position at Blackburn Rovers
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Cantwell joined Blackburn Rovers from Rangers in August 2024. He shone above the rest in John Eustace’s side, who narrowly missed out on the play-offs after Ismael’s arrival.
Todd Cantwell’s Blackburn Rovers stats
| Performances | Goals | Assists |
| 60 | 7 | 10 |
The Norwich City academy player became a key playmaker in that team last season, but has struggled to get going this season. He was frequently hit by injuries and spent much of the fall with a knee problem.
Cantwell missed the win at QPR after being ruled out for a few weeks with a foot injury. The former England U21 international has had a number of short-term issues this season, and this may be part of the reason he is seemingly struggling to get going.
That said, Cantwell has Blackburn Rovers’ third-highest goal tally, with four goals and three assists in 20 appearances this season. He is a key player and new boss O’Neill will want him back 100% to help Rovers stay afloat, although there will be intrigue over how he fits into that.
However, Rovers played as well set up as a 4-4-2 at Loftus Road. It begs the question: where does Cantwell fit in if O’Neill sticks with this formation?
He could play up top alongside Mathias Jorgensen, Andri Gudjohnsen or Yuki Ohashi. He would be more of a second striker, but the depth in that area makes that unlikely.
The other place he could fit would be on the left of Rovers’ midfield. However, Dapo Afolayan, Ryoya Morishita and Dion De Neve are all more natural players in that wide role.
What’s next for Todd Cantwell?
Cantwell is under contract with Blackburn Rovers until the summer of 2027, but the board could choose to cash in this year. The midfielder is struggling with his form and parts of the fanbase are becoming increasingly frustrated with his performances.
The criticism has been exaggerated at times, even if it is true that this season has been a tough one for Cantwell. Despite a strong start, he has struggled to get going and has not scored a goal since early December.
However, Cantwell is a confident player. He has shown time and time again throughout his career that when supported, he performs at an incredibly high level. However, he seems to be struggling to find that confidence with the love of fans at the moment.
It would be a real shame, but Cantwell could well be heading for the Ewood Park exit this summer rather than risk losing him for free in 2027.
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