Parrott Ken get career going again
IRELAND boss Stephen Kenny has backed Troy Parrott to fulfil his potential in a green shirt.
The Dubliner, 21, has been touted as the next big thing since he burst onto the scene at the Uefa U17 championships five years ago.
Four goals in four games for Ireland’s U19s – and then another four in five for the Under 21s – fuelled expectations.
But at club level he has yet to deliver, scoring just three in 32 appearances for Preston this season after previous spells on loan at Ipswich and Millwall where he tallied just two goals in 42 games.
Kenny, though, remains a believer – buoyed by the memories of Parrott’s goals in green against Andorra, Scotland and Lithuania. The Ireland gaffer (left) said: “Tory’s next loan move is important because with the right club, say in the Championship or a European league of a similar ilk, he’ll do well. “Injuries affected him this year, he didn’t come back at the level, how could you? He had his hamstring operated on, it’s a serious injury.
“The fact that he came back and played in the season was a credit to his rehabilitation. People don’t realise how dedicated he is. I know there is all this thing about Troy and lifestyle.
“But when he finished his season at Preston, Troy went back down to London and trained with Tottenham’s Under-21s for two weeks.
“Other players were going to Dubai and other far flung places for holidays but Troy chose to train at Spurs and then came to us for a week’s training camp in Bristol.
“I left him out of our last game because he wasn’t at the level he had been. But I think he’s capable, because he’s so young.
“Troy is capable of going next year and having a very good season somewhere. If he plays in a front two at all, he’ll make goals and score some as well.
“But what’s let him down this year a little bit, apart from his injury, is his finishing which traditionally was always his strongest point.
“For some reason, he started missing chances that he should have been scoring. He knows that himself.
“If he can get back on track and he is capable of doing it, I believe he can have a really good career. He’s very honest with himself which is a great starting point. He will come good.”