Premier League starlet Jarell Quansah continues to thrive on loan at Bristol Rovers with Joey Barton insisting that Liverpool have a teenager with the potential to become a ‘top player’, speaking to Bristol Live.
Perhaps typically for a man born in Warrington, Quansah is a footballer with a rugby player’s physique. As strong and tall as an oak tree. Shoulders broader than the River Mersey.
The 20-year-old centre-half, however, almost typifies that ‘good touch for a big man’ cliché. England U19 international Quansah has been a class act since joining Bristol Rovers on loan in January, helping Barton’s previously relegation-threatened side climb the table while keeping clean sheets in three of their last four games.
And the former Manchester City midfielder believes that, while this is Quansah’s first ever stint in senior football, those days spent training alongside some of the game’s greatest talent at Liverpool have stood him in very good stead.
Liverpool loanee Jarell Quansah thriving on loan at Bristol Rovers
“You know his quality,” Barton said. “If you’re training with Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, you’re in that elite environment. Via osmosis, you are going to get better.
“They think a lot of him, Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp. And they tend to be a good judge of a player and a good judge of character. So we are really thankful that they have trusted us with his development.”
Quansah, who has captained Liverpool at youth level, is a typically modern, ball-playing centre-half. That combination of physicality and finesse will stand him in good stead as he looks to force his way into Klopp’s first-team plans.
“Since he came in, he showed really flashes of his quality,” Barton adds. “Everybody who has watched five or six games of Jarell will have realised what a good player he is.
“Regardless of who he has played with or behind, his performances have been such a high level. He is definitely a top player in the making.
“We are really pleased to have him at the football club.”
Bristol Rovers are now ten points above the League One relegation zone.
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