Bristol Rovers' young internationals enjoyed a winning weekend in Spain while the Gas' long wait to return to action continues.
Rovers had a weekend off from League One action after Luca Hoole, Jarell Quansah and Lamare Bogarde were called up to represent their respective countries at youth international level and they had fun in the Marbella sun, all ending up on the winning side.
After keeping a clean sheet in a win over Germany in Manchester on Wednesday, on-loan Liverpool centre-back Quansah kept his place in Ian Foster's England Under-20s starting XI for the friendly against the United States at the Marbella Football Centre on Saturday as preparations continue for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Indonesia in May.
He played a pivotal part in the Young Lions making it back-to-back wins, scoring nine minutes into the second half, shortly after the USA had equalised, to put England ahead before Leeds United forward Matteo Joseph sealed a 4-2 victory.
Hoole, meanwhile, earned his third Wales Under-21s cap on Sunday, and it was a day to remember for the defender, who played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet against their Scottish counterparts at the Pinatar Arena. It was a comfortable victory for Matthew Jones' side, with Bradley Stoke-raised Bristol City defender Joe Low getting on the scoresheet.
On-loan Aston Villa midfielder Bogarde had represented his country at under-15s, under-16s and under-18s level before this international break and he earned his first cap for Netherlands Under-20s on Saturday, coming on as a late substitute in an impressive 2-1 win over France at the Marbella Football Centre.
Their Rovers teammates were without a game at the weekend with the trip to Shrewsbury Town postponed to the final week of the season, and the Gas are not in action next weekend, either, with the fixture against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park called off after the Pilgrims booked their place in Sunday's Papa John's Trophy final.
Joey Barton intends to use the time to refresh his players' energy reserves, but they were put to the test on Friday when they faced Premier League side Aston Villa at their Bodymoor Heath training ground in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Villa fielded a strong side including England internationals Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings, but it was the Gas who claimed the victory with Josh Coburn, Ryan Loft and John Marquis all scoring in a 3-1 win.
Next up for the Gas is the Good Friday visit of Charlton Athletic to the Mem on April 7, and Barton's side will be in action again soon after when they travel to Fleetwood Town on Easter Monday.
With the Shrewsbury and Plymouth games being rearranged for next month, the Gas face a hectic end to the League One campaign with their final nine games taking place over the course of 31 days.
Hoole and Bogarde's international assignments are complete, while Quansah and England face France in Spain on Tuesday before flying home.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
READ NEXT:
