 After undergoing surgery, he returned to fitness and kept his place as club captain for the 1935–36 season.After retaining his captaincy for the 1936–37 season, Blenkinsop suffered another serious cartilage injury in a Merseyside derby against Everton that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.At the end of the season, a clause was added to his contract that stipulated that if he was not a regular in Liverpool's first team at the end of September 1937, he would be free to leave the club.