Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah faces learning process after Bristol Rovers red card

Jarell Quansah’s red card will provide a learning lesson for the Bristol Rovers loanee admits manager Joey Barton.

The Liverpool loanee was sent off in injury time of the Gas’ 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth almost three weeks ago, and will now miss games against Charlton, Fleetwood and Derby.

Quansah has impressed in Bristol since his deadline day loan signing in January, however now misses out on three of his side’s nine final games, a mistake that his manager says he will learn from.

“As it is he has to miss a couple of games for his reaction,” Barton said. It’s disappointing but also that’s why Liverpool send him here. To learn those lessons so he doesn’t do that in a Champions League semi final or a deciding fixture for them when the going gets tough and the trophies are handed out when he gets to the big time.”

With the international break coming in the 20 day break since the Gas’ last game, Quansah was called up to Ian Foster’s England Under-20’s side - appearing in all three of their fixtures and scoring against USA in Marbella.

He said: “He’s been a great player, but it’s another man’s opportunity. Jarell’s been excellent since he’s come in, he’s gone away with England and done well with them, got a goal and he’s come back and it looks like he’s figured out how to head the ball - he would probably be our top scorer if he’d had known that before.”

Quansah’s suspension opens the door for James Connolly, who has been out of the side as of late. The former Cardiff man had his loan spell made permanent in the summer, however was substituted at half time in his side’s defeat to Wycombe, which was his first start in five.

The 21-year-old started in Rovers’ 3-1 victory over Aston Villa last week, with Rovers going up against Premier League opposition in Unai Emery’s side, in a behind closed doors friendly at Villa’s training ground.

“Beefy [Connolly] is one of those that did really well in the Villa game along with James Gibbons as well. Gibbo, Beefy and Lewis Gordon played as a back three, and handled Ollie Watkins who Premier League defences aren’t capable of handling at the minute. They have to take a shot of confidence from that. They’ve competed with some of the top boys and done well.”