BLACKBURN Rovers boss Owen Coyle has hailed his second summer signing Stephen Hendrie as an ‘exciting young player’ who will pose a genuine challenge for the left-back spot this season.

But Coyle has confirmed he is still hopeful Tommy Spurr will put pen to paper on a new contract and rival the Scotland Under-21 international for a place in the Rovers defence.

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Hendrie last night completed his season-long loan from West Ham United to the delight of his new manager.

Coyle said: “Stephen is a young player that West Ham bought from Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Premiership and he went on loan to Southend United in League One and did very well.

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“I spoke to Phil Brown, Southend’s manager, about Stephen. Phil is a very good friend of mine, we played together at Bolton Wanderers, and he thought Stephen did very well.

“I know West Ham have got high hopes for him, not just yet to play in the Premier League, but in future years, so we’re delighted to have secured his services.

“He’s an exciting young player who can compete for the left-back spot. He’s not the finished article yet because he’s a young kid but he has scope for development.

“He’s athletic, he’s good on the ball, but there’s stuff he still needs to learn.

“If I can bring in those young ones, to complement the experienced ones, then I think that’s a good mix going forward.”

Hendrie started his career at Hamilton, making his debut at 16 and going on to make 117 appearances for the club, before joining the Hammers for £1m last summer.

In January the 21-year-old was sent on loan to Southend, where he made five appearances, scoring one goal, before he returned to West Ham, who he helped win the Under-21 Premier League Cup.

Hendrie, who has yet to make his senior Hammers debut, is the only recognised left-back in Rovers’ squad. Coyle, however, hopes that will soon change.

He is waiting to hear whether Spurr, as well as striker Danny Graham, will accept the terms which have been offered to him.

“Tommy, I imagine, similar to Danny Graham, is a player who’ll have many, many offers,” said Coyle, who last night was linked with a move for released Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell, who the Ewood Park chief worked with when he was in charge of Wigan Athletic.

“Ultimately we can do the best what we can within our own finance because it’s not just one or two players I have to bring in to complement the squad, there’s a number of positions.

“But we’d certainly like to have an experienced left-back, which Tommy obviously is, and an exciting young one, who will continue to improve and get better, and have that competition for that spot.”

Hendrie said: “I’m absolutely delighted to put pen to paper.

“It’s a massive club, it’s going places and I’m buzzing to be here and I can’t get wait to get started.

“The manager played a big part and the size of the club. Hopefully it’s going to be a good season and I just want to come here and get games and kick on and see how I do.”

Rovers are also lining-up the permanent signing of a winger, believed to be Liam Feeney, and a loan deal for a young attacking midfielder on the books of a Premier League club.

The Championship fixtures are released at 9am this morning. The season will end on Sunday, May 7 with all games kicking off at 12noon.

The draw for the first round of the newly named English Football League Cup will be made at 1pm this afternoon. Rovers will be seeded in the regionalised draw.