BLACKBURN Rovers’ hopes of re-signing promising young West Ham United defender Doneil Henry have been raised.

Hammers joint-chairman David Sullivan has confirmed the Canada international could be sent back out on loan next season to ‘gain more experience’.

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Henry, who signed for West Ham in January from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol after making his name at FC Toronto, was given his first taste of English football during a brief but impressive loan stay at Rovers this month.

The 21-year-old helped Gary Bowyer’s side to successive Championship victories over Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic only to sustain a serious hamstring injury in the latter match.

Henry has since undergone an operation to cure the problem that will prevent him from kicking a ball again this season.

Sullivan admits once the centre-back is fit he could challenge Winston Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins for a place in the heart of West Ham’s backline.

But he also believes there is a chance he will be allowed to continue his development away from Upton Park.

Sullivan said: “We have Doneil Henry of course and he won impressive reviews for his performances at Blackburn Rovers before getting injured.

“If he’s ready for the Premier League then he could get a chance, otherwise it might be that he goes out on loan again to gain more experience.”

Rovers boss Bowyer hopes Henry will be back at Ewood Park to watch the FA Cup quarter-final replay with Liverpool on Wednesday week.

But he believes it is too soon to say whether he will return to Rovers in a playing capacity.

Bowyer said: “The most important thing is Doneil has a successful operation and then continues his rehab.

“But we’ll certainly stay in touch with him and then assess things in the summer.

“But the poor lad has got a bit of work to do before then.”

Bowyer has two senior centre-backs contracted for next season, captain Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy.

Stand-in skipper Matt Kilgallon’s current contract runs out in the summer while the on-loan Alex Baptiste is set to return to parent club Bolton Wanderers.