Platt tells sent-off Pennant to be 'more professional' in future

David Platt, the England Under-21 manager, has told Jermaine Pennant to learn the lesson of his red against Croatia Under-21s on Tuesday as the Arsenal midfielder yesterday agreed to join Leeds United on a two-month loan.

Pennant, who had struggled to break into the Arsenal side following his £2m move from Notts County, a record fee for a teenager, five years ago, was sent off for punching Niko Kranjcar in an off-the-ball incident during the Under-21s 3-0 friendly defeat at Upton Park on Tuesday.

Pennant spent two spells on loan with Watford last season and admitted earlier this year that he might have to consider a permanent move to further his career. Leeds had been linked with the player over the summer as their manager, Peter Reid, attempted to increase his options after several high-profile departures.

Pennant, who will wear the No 11 shirt at Elland Road, will be available for all Premiership games, but cannot play in the Carling Cup, and is due to return to Highbury on 19 October. Reid said: "You always need quality players and getting Jermaine in will be a big bonus for us."

In April, Platt sent Pennant home from the Under-21 camp before their match with Turkey when he broke a curfew. Platt told Pennant after that incident that he had not acted "in a professional manner", and yesterday he said: "On the field is different from off the field, but Jermaine's got to learn about everything that's happening in his career. It was retaliation for something, but the boy deserved to be sent off and he's held his hands up.

"He hasn't been sent off that many times in his career, certainly not for retaliation. But you've got to learn from things like that, although that's not an excuse. He and we must be more professional."

Jermaine Jenas, the Newcastle United and England Under-21 midfielder, is convinced that Pennant, who is expected to receive a three-match suspension from Under-21 and senior international friendlies, will meet Platt's demand and learn his lesson.

"I saw Jermaine in the changing room after the game and he was very disappointed with his reaction," Jenas said. "He knows he should have shown more discipline in that situation. But he's a great player, he'll learn from it and I'm sure he'll move on."

Platt is hoping that Tuesday's defeat will serve as a warning ahead of important European Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Portugal next month.

"It's an extreme disappointment and it wasn't a club performance - we didn't do things players do week-in, week-out at their clubs," Platt said.

"Pulling an international shirt on means you must do that, but people might have been trying to impress. But if it's the kick up the backside we need to win the two games with Macedonia and Portugal, I'll be delighted."

Platt was keen to emphasise that Pennant's dismissal should not mask the deficiencies in his side's performance.

"Jermaine's sending off didn't help our situation, but I wouldn't be stupid enough to say it was the reason we lost the game," Platt said. "We have to all take responsibility."

Jermain Defoe, the West Ham United striker, had an equaliser wrongly ruled out for offside after 37 minutes that would have levelled Goran Ljubojevic's opening goal on 11 minutes.

Ljubojevic scored again on 52 minutes, nine minutes before Pennant's dismissal, reacting first to a loose ball inside the six-yard box. The Croatia left-back, Daniel Pranjic, completed the victory with a brilliant chip in injury-time.