‘Phenomenal’ Tyrhys Dolan likened to two Barcelona legends after Blackburn exit

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From Jude Bellingham, David Beckham, Gary Lineker, Michael Owen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcus Rashford to Tyrhys Dolan; the former Blackburn Rovers winger is the latest Englishman to step onto Spanish soil.

And while the one-time Ewood Park favourite may lack the star power of Bellingham, Rashford and co, he is shaping up to become a very big fish in a relatively smaller pond.

Now, Valerien Ismael feels he landed Tyrhys Dolan’s readymade replacement in the shape of Ryoya Morishita. The Japan international joined Blackburn Rovers in a reported £1.5 million deal from Polish outfit Legia Warsaw, and has wasted little time making his mark.

Morishita scored the winner on his full Championship debut away at Watford on Saturday.

But regardless of whether or not Morishita can build on his flying start, whether Ismael can replicate his Barnsley success at Blackburn, few at Ewood Park would begrudge Dolan in his attempts to put Lancashire on the map at Manolo Gonzalez’s Espanyol.

Tyrhys Dolan provides first La Liga assist after leaving Blackburn Rovers for Espanyol

Marcus Rashford is not the only Lancastrian forward settling into his new Catalonian home.

On a weekend in which Rashford provided his first Barcelona assist – Hansi Flick’s team thrashed Valencia 6-0 – Tyrhys Dolan went one better.

And in pretty spectacular style too.

While it was a late penalty from former Middlesbrough striker Kike Garcia who gave Espanyol all three points in a thrilling La Liga victory over Real Mallorca, Dolan provided arguably the standout moment of that eventual 3-2 triumph.

Popping up on the right-hand side, rather than the left flank he tended to occupy at Blackburn, Dolan whipped a gorgeous cross towards the back post. His pinpoint delivery drew Mallorca goalkeeper Leo Romain off his line before leaving him grasping at thin air, Roberto Fernandez’s finish something of a formality thanks to the sheer quality of Dolan’s devastating delivery.

That would not be the end of his involvement, either. With Espanyol down to ten men and Mallorca pushing for a winner, Dolan drew a foul on a rare foray into the visitors’ penalty area. Kike’s spot-kick snuck under Romain’s arms, and head coach Manolo Gonzalez wildly celebrated a win which lifts Barcelona’s local rivals level on points with the reigning La Liga champions.

“Very happy. He’s a phenomenal kid,” Manolo told reporters when asked to sum up Dolan’s first few weeks in Spanish football. “He knows he came here to become a better player. He’s hungry, eager to prove himself.

“As long as he continues at this level, with varying degrees of success, he’ll be a starter. He has a lot of room for improvement.”

Dolan earns Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho comparisons

With three wins and a draw from four unbeaten matches, Espanyol are behind Barcelona on goal difference and only two points behind pacesetters Real Madrid.

A winger who spent five years in a Blackburn shirt certainly looks good in blue and white.

Dolan, a Manchester City academy graduate, is only the fourth Englishman ever to wear Espanyol colours. The first since ex-Aston Villa, Everton and Stoke attacker Adrian Heath enjoyed a brief spell in Barcelona back in 1988/89.

While Alexander-Arnold has struggled to displace Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid, while Rashford is equally in-and-out at Barcelona, as things stand right now, the England expat to make the biggest splash in Spanish football since his summer arrival is none other than Blackburn Rovers’ old number ten.

“Tyrhys Dolan, another signing who has landed on his feet in Espanyol,” Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo wrote after watching the RCDE newcomer strolled off to ear-splitting applause against Real Mallorca.

“The young English winger excelled on Monday against Mallorca and was given a standing ovation by a crowd [who are] already enamoured. In just a month, he’s already a regular in the starting eleven.”

With those Argentina-eseque blue and white stripes and his dizzying dribbles, there was a sense of inevitability about his new ‘MaraDolan’ nickname.

“Dolan had already hinted at what he could offer Manolo’s team but on Monday, in the difficult match against Mallorca, he already delivered a very high score,” Mundo Deportivo add. “A golden assist for Roberto to put the win on track and a key player in the penalty he won in the final stretch.

“And for many minutes, he was a nightmare for the Vermillion rearguard, unable to pin down the elusive and brazen winger.

“‘MaraDolan’ or ‘Dolaninho’, the nicknames he’s been given [in reference to Barcelona greats Maradona and Ronaldinho], is making giant strides.”