The Ireland international could be soon pitched into a relegation battle.
Ahead of Tottenham’s FA Cup fourth round encounter with Southampton, José Mourinho was asked about Troy Parrott again, and his prospects of getting more first team football.
With Harry Kane out for the next couple of months, and possibly until the tail-end of the season, strikers are a hot-button topic around the club. Real Sociedad forward Willian José has been linked with Spurs but several supporters would like for Mourinho to use the negative of Kane’s absence to give more game-time to Parrott.
The 17-year-old won his senior debut under Mauricio Pochettino, against Colchester, earlier in the season and Mourinho handed him his league debut in December. Since that sub appearance, coming on for Kane in a win over Burnley, the 17-year-old has not featured.
Fragilities
He was on the bench for a Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich and has often travelled with the senior side to games but without making the final squad. On Friday, Mourinho told reporters:
“Troy Parrott trains with the group. After training he has a special programme of individual development of his qualities as a striker and this club takes very good care of the players.
“That is the only thing I can say. If he has to play with us, he will. He will do his best, he will show his good qualities, he will show his fragilities because at this moment he is a 17-year-old kid with fragilities in his game.”
Troy Parrott did not make the matchday squad for that drawn game with Southampton, however, and his hopes for more senior action may diminish further if Tottenham bring in any forwards before the transfer window closes.
To that end, it is no surprise to hear Charlton Athletic are interested in securing Parrott’s services for the rest of the season. Lee Bowyer’s side are currently 19th in the Championship and just one point outside of the relegation places.
The Addicks are short of goalscoring talent themselves having lost striker Macauley Miles Bonne [eight goals in 19 league games] to injury. Parrott could expect to press for a starting role in Bowyer’s side, who have only picked up two points in their last 15 games.
Interestingly, Parrott could end up playing with Paul Pogba’s brother if he makes the loan move. Bowyer has brought in Florentin Pogba for a trial period, this week, with a view to getting him in on a short-term deal for the rest of the season. The midfielder was released by MLS champions Atlanta and is in training with Charlton’s U23s at present.
Parrott could also link up with another Ireland international at The Valley. West Ham midfielder Josh Cullen is on loan at the club until the end of the season.
