ADAM Henley has no intention of losing his place in the Blackburn Rovers starting line-up having just won it back.

But the right-back is relishing the extra competition that new loan signing Doneil Henry will bring.

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Henley has impressed new Rovers manager Paul Lambert after starting both of his first matches in charge.

Lambert’s backing came as a boost to the newly capped Wales international having been benched for the final four games of Gary Bowyer’s reign.

Fresh from his country’s historic qualification for Euro 2016 Henley was hit by a one-match ban after being sent off in the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons.

That came as a bitter blow to the 21-year-old as he felt he was playing some of the best football of his young career.

And after returning from suspension he suffered further frustration as then Rovers boss Bowyer kept faith with Ben Marshall at right-back.

Henley’s long awaited first Wales cap, in last month’s friendly defeat to Holland in Cardiff, lifted his spirits.

And better was to follow when Lambert instantly reinstated him into the Rovers starting line-up.

“It was a tough few weeks for me,” said Henley, who is now over the serious injuries that blighted his progress after making his first-team debut at 17.

“I went from watching Wales qualify for the Euros to getting the red card at MK Dons and then not playing.

“But that’s football summed up. You can have highs and lows. It was tough but I’ve had harder blows that that.

“I just had to get through it, carry on doing what I’ve doing, and carry on working hard in training.

“You never know how football pans out. A new manager has come in and he has trusted me with a place in the team.

“I’ve just got to carry it on now.”

Henley knows he cannot afford to rest on his laurels after Henry returned for a second spell from West Ham United.

The Canada international, who will remain on loan at Rovers until January 3, is primarily a centre-back.

But he plays right-back for his country and Henley said: “I’ve had it ever since I got into the first team at Blackburn and it’s only made me a better player.

“It’s been kind of me on my own for a long part of the season but now Doneil’s back and it’s good to have that competition.”

Rovers will head to Bristol City this weekend looking to extend their unbeaten start under Lambert to three matches after they followed their 2-1 victory at Preston North End with a 2-2 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

Henley is enjoying working under Lambert and he said: “Every day in training the intensity has been high – and not just because it’s a new manager coming in and everyone wanting to impress.

“That’s just what he demands and I think it’s shown in the last couple of games that we’ve been trying to bring in what we’ve been doing in training.

“It’s tough but, at the end of the day, that is what it’s going to take in the Championship.

“Everybody has got to give 100 per cent in every game because it’s a tough league to get out of.

“The demands he is making on us is not out of the ordinary. It’s just what’s required.”