JACK Shepherd says he used the ban from his opening day red card at Plymouth Argyle last week to make himself a better player.

The defender, who had just returned from a successful loan at Bradford City, was given two disputed yellow cards in the win in Devon so missed the victory against Burton Albion this week.

Shepherd told the Chronicle: “We have good people around the club. There are a lot of people to talk to about the situation, who can help me out. It’s just about putting it behind me but also using it to build myself.

“I couldn’t be upset about it.

“It was an opportunity.

“I had a week to make myself a better player than I was the week before.”

Barnsley won their first two league games but head coach Conor Hourihane wants them to improve defensively.

Shepherd said: “We’ve done a lot of work in the off-season and we continue to work on it.

“There is always room for improvement in every aspect of everyone’s game and the team’s game.

“Obviously it’s something we’re looking at as defenders and we’re working on it every day on and off the pitch.”

Shepherd gained promotion with Bradford from League Two last season and is looking to do the same this campaign with the Reds.

“You have long-term goals, and promotion is definitely one for us, but I don’t like to think too far ahead. If you are in the here and now, you concentrate on yourself.

“If you think too far ahead, you might start getting distracted.”