ADAM Henley hopes to have laid a marker down for the Blackburn Rovers right-back spot after producing a performance he admits will do wonders for his confidence.

The youngster impressed on his return to the team on Tuesday as Rovers got their season back on track with a 1-0 home win over Birmingham City.

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It was the first time that Henley had started a league match in his natural position since March when a serious ankle injury against Leicester City at Ewood Park brought his campaign to an abrupt end.

The 20-year-old, who has been troubled by injuries since he burst on to the scene as a 17-year-old, got himself fit for the start of this season.

But he found himself further down the pecking order after the summer arrival of Alex Baptiste.

And in recent weeks he has had to watch on as Rovers boss Gary Bowyer preferred to play the versatile Ben Marshall at right back.

But with Marshall restored to the wing against Birmingham to devastating effect, Henley is optimistic his display will convince Bowyer to keep faith with him for Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

“I’ve been patient, waiting for my chance again, and hopefully I’ve put a good marker down,” said the Wales U21s international.

“The way I played definitely gave me a lift.

“You need those little boosts of confidence throughout a season to keep you going and I was really happy with my performance.

“Hopefully I can carry that on now.”

Henley was beaten to the man-of-the-match award by match-winner Marshall whose fifth goal of the season, and second in consecutive games, was enough to earn Rovers their first victory in a month.

But the recalled defender accepts they made hard work of it.

“It was a massive win but we could have been more clinical,” said Henley, who revealed Bowyer ‘fired-up’ his players at half-time after their ‘flat’ first-half showing.

“But at the end of the day we’re happy to have got the three points and they are the most important thing.”

While Rovers are having trouble putting away their chances, there has been a marked improvement in their defending, with the clean sheet against Birmingham their third in six matches.

Henley said: “We picked that up a few weeks ago as an issue and that, if we’re looking to push for promotion, it’s something we had to sort out.

“We’ve worked hard at it on the training pitch and hopefully we’re starting to see that in the games now.”

Rovers’ new-found defensive resilience will be tested on Saturday by a Forest side who are the joint third highest scorers in the Championship and whose £5m striker Britt Assombalonga sits level at top of the division’s scoring charts with nine goals.

“It’s going to be a massive game for us,” said Henley, hailed as ‘terrific’ by Bowyer after Tuesday’s Birmingham clash.

“And if we go into the game with the confidence we showed in the second half on Tuesday then we’ll have a chance.”