Bristol Rovers' on-loan defender Jarell Quansah played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet as England under-20s beat their German counterparts 2-0 in Manchester on Wednesday.
Liverpool prospect Quansah played in the heart of Ian Foster's defence at the Manchester City Academy Stadium as the Young Lions showed their class ahead of this summer's FIFA Uunder-20 World Cup in Indonesia.
The game showcased what might have been for Joey Barton and the Gas, with Quansah paired in defence with Chelsea prospect Bashir Humphreys. The Gas were hopeful of signing the defender in the closing stages of the January transfer window only to be gazumped by German second-tier side SC Paderborn.
Bristol City talent Alex Scott was also in the starting XI, but it was Juventus tyro Sam Iling-Junior that proved the difference between the sides, scoring both goals.
Next up for Quansah and his teammates is a trip to Spain. They will face the USA and France on Saturday and Tuesday respectively at the Marbella Football Centre as their World Cup preparations intensify.
The 20-year-old, who has played in all nine times for the Gas since joining on loan in January, was one of three Gas players to be called up to represent their countries during this international break. Lamare Bogarde has joined up with Netherlands U20s, while Luca Hoole is in the Wales under-21s squad for Sunday's friendly against Scotland in Spain.
As a result of the call-ups, Rovers' game against Shrewsbury Town that was scheduled for Saturday has been postponed until the final week of the season. Some fans questioned why the game could not be played after Quansah was sent off for Rovers in the 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth last time out, with his suspension rendering him unavailable for the Gas anyway. However, the fixture had already been called off and cannot be reinstated.
The Football Association has confirmed Quansah has been handed a three-match ban for the red card with the centre-back punished for a challenge on Joe Morell, who later claimed he was also "headbutted" by the Gas defender, while Barton argued his man was unlucky to be sent off at all. The FA insists Quansah has been punished for the tackle and nothing else.
As a result of his suspension, Quansah will miss the Good Friday and Easter Monday games against Charlton Athletic and Fleetwood Town, as well as the visit of Derby County to the Mem on April 15. With Quansah out, James Connolly and Lewis Gibson are likely to be paired together in central defence.
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