BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer believes Adam Henley’s re-emergence for club and country is a result of the work he has put in behind the scenes at Brockhall to become a better defender.

Henley could win his first international cap in Wales’ crucial Euro 2016 qualifier in Israel this afternoon after returning to Chris Coleman’s squad for the first time in three years.

But for the first six months of this season the 20-year-old was struggling to nail down a place in Bowyer’s starting line-up.

But he used his time on the sidelines to work closely with Rovers first-team coach – and former Premier League centre-back – Craig Short in a bid to sharpen up his defending.

And those extra hours on the training pitch have certainly paid off.

Henley will go into today’s crunch clash in Haifa having gone a long way to cementing his place as Rovers’ first-choice right-back.

And proud Bowyer, who has coached Henley since he was a boy, said: “Fair play to Adam.

“He never sulked when he was out of the team and he worked very hard on certain areas we had spoken to him about.

“He did the defensive work with Shorty, particularly in terms of improving his heading.

“And fair play to him, he knew where he had to improve, he went about it and he’s now reaping the rewards from that.”

Bowyer has also been impressed with the way that Henley, who scored the first senior goal of his career in the win at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of this month, has added to the attacking side of his game.

He said: “He’s a fantastic one versus one defender with great strength and great pace and what has been really impressive over the last month has been his decision making on the ball and the improvement he’s made with the bal “And we saw that when he scored his first goal, which was a terrific effort.”

Henley has played 18 times this season, the most in a highly promising that has been disrupted by injury.

And Bowyer said: “When I heard Adam had been called-up I was absolutely delighted but disappointed at the same time because I’d have liked him to have a rest!

“But from a serious point of view, it’s well-earned and it’s terrific for him.”

Henley is not the only Rovers player who could be in international action this weekend.

Jordan Rhodes is part of the Scotland squad for their Euro 2016 qualifier with Gibraltar at Hampden Park tomorrow.

Rhodes made his first appearance for the Tartan Army in 18 months when he came off the bench in their 1-0 friendly win at home to Northern Ireland on Wednesday night.

Rovers’ Northern Ireland midfielder Corry Evans did not play in that match after being troubled by a groin injury.

But Evans could return for his country’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Finland at Windsor Park tomorrow.