STEPHEN KENNY believes Troy Parrott can sit on the top perch — but admitted the 18-year-old is lucky to be in his squad.
Kenny named his first Ireland senior squad yesterday, for the Uefa Nations League double header away to Bulgaria and home to Finland next month.
And Tottenham ace Parrott, who has joined Millwall on loan for the season, is one of the young guns included, alongside Adam Idah, 19, Aaron Connolly, 20, and Jayson Molumby, 21.
Kenny said: “Just being honest about it, Troy was not in my initial squad.
“But David McGoldrick has that foot injury and he missed the last game of last season.
“And he also took an injection to play at the end of last season.
“So if you are leaving someone like David out, the player that we have with the closest characteristics to him is actually Troy.
“I see Troy as having those sort of characteristics, he can play in a front three and you can play into him and be a focal point.
“He is obviously a talented player. My concern was that he had not played enough football.
“He has done monstrous training with Millwall since he has gone back and he looks in really, really brilliant condition, he is absolutely flying.
“He has excelled in training and has started a great first week there.
“He is a real talent and we have to encourage that as well.
“Seeing him with the Under-21 team, some of the goals that he scored were terrific.
“We have seen that and seen that he has the temperament for the big occasion, that’s obvious.”
(Irish Sun)
