Callum O'Dowda Can Earn a Contract Extension

Nigel Pearson outlines how Callum O'Dowda can earn a contract extension at Bristol City
Bristol City winger Callum O'Dowda is one of six players who become a free agent at the end of the season

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Callum O'Dowda's path to a contract extension at Bristol City appears straightforward - stay fit enough to play a reasonable amount of minutes while retaining a consistency of performance.

O'Dowda is one of six City players on expiring contracts - one fewer than it was at the start of the week following confirmation of Tyreeq Bakinson's deal until 2023 - although the Robins do hold a 12-month option on the Republic of Ireland international.

Outside of the academy products in Nigel Pearson's squad, the 26-year-old is second longest-serving in the first-team squad having signed from Oxford United for £1.25million in the summer of 2016 but his progress has been constantly curtailed by a series of short to medium-term injuries that have frustrated everyone concerned.

That alone makes Pearson and City think twice about an extension, as O'Dowda has started 14 and 17 Championship matches over the last two seasons - and has never made more than 20 Championship starts in any of his campaigns as a Robin - but in recent weeks has found a regularity in selection.

Now lining up at left wing-back, it's a position that has drawn two good performances out of him and it appears that needs to continue further into the season.

"Callum knows he's in a position where he's had a frustrating time with injury," Pearson said. "I like Callum a lot. Hopefully he can stay fit and get a run in the side where he shows what he's capable of.

"Where he's currently playing suits his game. He worked exceptionally hard for the team the other day, in both directions. And that's really important.

"We need a team full of players like that. We're not in a position to have luxury players. That's where we are at the moment. I'm not suggesting that should be the case anyway, I'm not a big fan of having luxury players.

"I'm a fan of having a team that functions as a team and that framework allows people to be themselves and be whatever they are, whether that's destructive or creative."

There is an additional side to extending a player's contract beyond just being a reward and recognition of their performances, it also tends to make financial sense dependent on their age, value and potential to increase that worth.

That was, in-part, behind the decision to keep 23-year-old Bakinson on until 2023, the club having signed him from Luton Town as a teenager in 2017 and been patiently waiting for his first-team breakthrough over the course of loan spells, Under-23s football and sessions at Failand.

As Pearson pointed out, O'Dowda is three years older and at a different stage of his career but there has been a similar process since he arrived in Bristol as a 21-year-old, with the hope and expectation he would grow into becoming a proven Championship performer and saleable asset.

That has happened, but all too sporadically, but to let O'Dowda leave on a free at the end of the season, would seem a gamble, given his reputation and, as the club well know, ability. Although, turning 27 in April, his transfer value will start to slowly decrease as he approaches 30.

"When you invest substantial amount of time and finance in developing players, just on a purely business sense, you have to protect your assets, that's just part of the modern game," Pearson added.

"We are a club which works hard to produce players for our own team so it's not in pour interests to spend so much time and effort in doing that and getting people come and take them off our hands. That's not what we're after.

"This is why the goal of wanting to and needing to become a Premier League side, it's not just a status side of getting there but actually we've got a much better chance of keeping hold of our talent in the longer term."

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/callum-odowda-bristol-city-contract-6268574