Brighton & Hove Albion intend to give Rovers loan duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Reda Khadra every chance to break into their first-team plans for next season.

The pair have spent the 2021/22 season on loan with Rovers and impressed, van Hecke named player of the season while Khadra has been a regular in the side since November.

Both have become hits with supporters, buying into the club and putting in promising displays since breaking into the side at the back end of 2021.

Khadra is already back with Brighton, with a calf injury cutting short his time with Rovers, while van Hecke will be back with the Seagulls for pre-season.

Neither has made an impact since signing for the Premier League club, though Khadra did make his debut against Manchester City last January, before being spotted by Rovers' head of recruitment John Park in action in a pre-season friendly with Rangers.

Van Hecke meanwhile was loaned to Heerenveen after his move from NAC Breda was confirmed in September 2020, while he has spent the whole of this season with Rovers.

Brighton have used the loan market to good effect recently, and Potters says the pair, along with others currently plying their trade away from the AMEX Stadium, will have the chance to break into his plans for next season.

He said: "That would be the plan.

"There are a few lads who we’ve got to sit down with and figure out what the next step is and what the right plan for them is, to assess that.

"There’s potentially a few guys that could come back and be around in pre-season, we will see from there."

Both have a year to run on their contracts at Brighton, something the Premier League side could address this summer, but it could otherwise prove to be an important summer for both.

Khadra has already been linked with a move to Anderlecht, while van Hecke is unlikely to be short of suitors should he be made available, having played all but 45 minutes of Rovers’ last 26 matches, and been a key figure in the side under Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray has spoken in glowing terms about the talents, and human qualities, of the pair, who have returned the compliments of their time at Ewood Park.

While van Hecke is unlikely to feature on the final day at Birmingham City, due to the expectation he won’t be at the club next season, Khadra has already been ruled out through injury, having returned to Brighton for treatment.

And Potter added: “I spoke with him (Khadra), he’s really positive, he’s had a really good experience to be involved that much under the guidance of Tony Mowbray, it’s been really beneficial for him.

"He’s unfortunate that his season has been cut short because of injury, but overall it’s been a really positive experience."

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