MAGPIES’ boss Steve Thompson conceded former Dorchester Town goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay “has a lot to learn” after an action-packed one-month loan spell expired last weekend.

Sesay, 20, joined Thompson’s side from Bristol City in September under exceptional circumstances when number one keeper Kingsley Latham was taken ill with internal bleeding before Dorchester’s FA Cup second qualifying round clash at Tiverton.

Making his debut in the 2-0 loss against the Yellows, Sesay saved a penalty, conceded another and was sent off for two bookable offences in an extraordinary maiden appearance.

The Sierra Leone gloveman since performed well, making a number of crucial saves and gaining a strong reputation for his commanding claims from set-pieces.

However, the fiery Robins’ loanee was allegedly kicked by a rival Harrow Borough player in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat and retaliated by aiming a return kick, only for the officials to spot his misdemeanour and brandish a second red card in his six-game spell.

Commenting on the form of Sesay, Thompson could see the positives and negatives to the ex-Magpie’s stay at the club.

He told Echosport: “I think he is a good keeper but he’s got a lot to learn. As a 20-year-old he’s very young for a keeper. He’s probably learnt a lot in his (six) games.

“That will hold Bristol City in good stead or whoever he plays for next because obviously his loan is up. He’s not available next week anyway and Kingsley is back fit again.

“You have to make sensible decisions as a footballer on the pitch, but that does come with experience and age. I’m hoping that he’s learnt a lot.

“I had a good five minutes with him before he’s left and I thanked him for his services. On the whole, he’s done well.

“It has been very, very disappointing that he’s been sent off twice, especially for a retaliation thing.”

Despite Sesay’s disciplinary problems, Thompson felt the goalkeeper’s transgressions would make him a “better” player.

He said: “You don’t expect a goalkeeper to be sent off twice in their six games on loan. Obviously it’s cost us.

“I’m not saying it’s cost us the victory (against Harrow) – it was 15 minutes to go and we were 3-1 down – but we were in with a chance of salvaging something and that really ended it.

“It is what it is, he’s been sent off twice. There’s no way I can deny that, no way he can deny that. He’s young, he’s a little bit hot-headed and he’s made mistakes.

“Hopefully he’ll learn from them and, who knows, mine and his paths may cross in the future and we’ll talk about that. Maybe that’ll make him a better goalkeeper.

“One of the reasons league clubs put players out to non-League clubs is that they make their mistakes for those non-League clubs.

“We had a choice to make when Kingsley got injured, we made it, and we live by our choices.”

Elaborating on the Sesay’s dismissal at Harrow, Thompson admitted that Sesay had confessed to lashing out.

He said: “I asked the referee as we were coming off the pitch and he’s told me that he’s sent AJ off for kicking the opponent.

“I spoke to AJ and he didn’t deny that he kicked him. He got kicked first and kicked him back.

“As is with young players sometimes they’re not cute enough to do it at the right time. You can’t be bullied but you have to do it at the right time.

“He’s done it at the wrong time, just as the referee’s looking his way. So, no complaints if that is what happened. That’s what the referee’s said and what AJ’s said.”