Bristol Rovers’ League One encounter with Shrewsbury Town on March 25 has been postponed as the Gas have lost three of their regular starters to international call-ups.
After defender Luca Hoole was selected in the Wales Under-21 squad earlier this week, centre-back Jarell Quansah earned a place in the England Under-20 set-up on Friday followed by midfielder Lamare Bogarde who is part of the Netherlands Under-20 squad.
Under EFL rules, a club has the right to call a game off if at least three members of their squad receive international call-ups, whether that be for senior teams or age groups.
Hoole, Quansah and Bogarde all started at Forest Green Rovers last Saturday and would have played together again on Tuesday only for Hoole to be ruled out due to illness. The trio are all likely to be in Joey Barton’s matchday squad against Portsmouth this weekend, with at least two starting.
Quansah has played every minute in the centre of defence of the Gas’ nine games since signing on loan from Liverpool at the end of January, while Aston Villa teenager Bogarde has been a versatile player under Barton making eight appearances in League One, while Hoole is now a consistent part of the first-team squad since his breakthrough season in 2021/22.
The postponement means that after Saturday’s encounter with Portsmouth at the Mem, Rovers don’t have a competitive fixture until their home date with Charlton Athletic on Good Friday, representing a gap of 20 days.
That’s because their intended League One game at Plymouth Argyle on April 1 had already been moved after the Devon side reached the final of the Papa Johns Trophy at Wembley where they will play Bolton Wanderers on April 2.
A revised date for the fixture against Shrewsbury is still to be confirmed with the only logical alternative being during the final week of the season as Rovers have a gap in the calendar between their matches at Peterborough United on April 29 and the visit of Bolton Wanderers on May 7.
That could enhance the significance of the game as Shrewsbury still hold an outside chance of reaching the top six as Steve Cotterill’s side are eight points behind Bolton occupying the final play-off berth. It also means that Rovers will have to close out the campaign playing nine games inside just over four weeks, roughly a match every three days.
Barton’s squad options, particularly in midfield, are currently stretched due to the absences of Sam Finley (illness), Harry Anderson (groin), Jordan Rossiter, Josh Grant and Paul Coutts (all knee).
Of that group, Finley has been ruled out of Saturday’s game against Portsmouth but will have plenty of time to recover fully over the international break, while Anderson underwent surgery earlier this month and his original prognosis earmarked a return around the Charlton game. The other three are expected to be out for the rest of the season.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
READ NEXT:
