Blackburn Rovers 'close' to securing latest contract extension

Rankin-Costello has said publicly, and indicated to the club privately, that he sees his future at the club and is keen to become the latest player to sign a long-term deal.

The 23-year-old enjoyed an incredible turnaround in fortune, starting 22 of the final 23 Championship matches and securing an award at the end of season presentation for most man of the match prizes.

It capped an excellent return to the side for Rankin-Costello who looked set to leave on loan in both transfer windows during the season, and went four months without a Championship appearance.

Having since become a key part of Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side, and the prospect of a move into midfield for the upcoming season, Rovers are keen to ensure that Rankin-Costello is tied down to a long-term contract.

His current deal expires next summer, and while the club do have a 12-month option to extend that through to 2025, they are keen to reward the Academy graduate for his performances with a long-term extension.

The turnaround in fortunes of Joe Rankin-Costello has been one of the stories of 2023.

Yet equally, his talent and potential has never been in question, instead his fitness record has prevented him from showing it on a regular basis.

Rankin-Costello made his debut in August 2018 in the Checkatrade Trophy but had to wait another year for his next, before his Championship debut in January 2020.

He made 12 first-team appearances in 2019/20, but looked set for a more prominent role in 2020/21 when he started nine of the opening 12 matches.

However, he didn’t play again until March 2021 due to struggles with his hamstring, while a fractured metatarsal ended his season the following month.

By this point he had been converted into a right back, or wing-back, with his long-awaited return coming in November 2021, though his first start didn’t arrive until January 2022.

He was restricted to just 10 Championship appearances that season, fewer than he made two years early when just breaking into the side, as his body continued to let him down.

Yet a mark of his impressive turnaround has been his fitness record.

Since getting his opportunity against Norwich City in December he has started 22 of 23 Championship games, and a further four in the cup competitions.

In 23 of those, he’s played at least 80 minutes, missing only one game.

While director of football Gregg Broughton praised his excellent run of form, he was keen to equally give credit to the work done behind the scenes.

He said: “His progress since Christmas has been phenomenal. I think there’s great credit to our medical and physical staff that he’s been able to stay on the pitch for a significant amount of time which he hasn’t been able to do for a long time.

“He’s been able to flourish and really show his potential.

“We’re all hoping we can get that (contract extension) done.”

Rankin-Costello too has played his part, working more on his recovery, doing less work in the gym, but he also believes a change in training schedules has aided him.

There was also regular performances for the Under-21s which ensured while it wasn’t where he would have wanted it to be, he was still getting regular game-time under his belt.

“I’d probably say I’m doing less now, the training is shorter and more intense, whereas before it used to be long,” he explained.

“It’s short, intense and I wouldn’t say it’s as much.

“There’s loads of things I’ve cut down on, I do less in the gym.

“With different managers the training changes and we used to be out for out for two hours to two-and-a-half hours and it’s now it’s one hour to one-and-a-half.

“We get our work out of it in a short period of time and it probably makes it easier on the legs.”

An award was a deserved acknowledgement of his performances, having claimed six man-of-the-match prizes since the turn of the year.

It could easily have been so different, with loan moves lined up in the summer and in January, but Rankin-Costello said: “The start wasn’t easy but to pick up an award is a real buzz for me.

“If you keep going you will get your rewards.

“I made sure I was playing for the Under-21s week in, week out, so you don’t feel that when your opportunity does come that you’ve not played for four or five months.

“If you keep fit then you’ll be ready for when that opportunity comes around.”