Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy says teenager Troy Parrott is a "shoo-in" for a call up to the senior squad if he remains involved with the Tottenham first-team at the start of the season.
The 17-year-old started in attack alongside Harry Kane in Spurs' 2-1 friendly defeat to Manchester United in China yesterday, after impressing against Juventus last week.
His club manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that the Dubliner could have a role to play with the first-team squad next term and McCarthy says competitive football rather than friendly appearances will determine whether Parrott makes the Ireland squad for this autumn's Euro 2020 qualifiers.
“Pre-season friendlies mean nothing to me, for young players, though, it’s a way of getting a game, so for Troy, it is a really big thing. Whether he starts on the 10th of August, though, who knows? But it’s great for his development and progression," the Ireland boss told The Irish Independent at the Festival of Football in Trim.
"And if he is playing in the first game of the season, if he is starting and playing for Spurs, he’ll have to be a shoo-in for the squad.
“He’s got to be playing really, to play. But if he is in the squad with Spurs with a chance of coming on – Mauricio Pochettino has proved to be a great coach, so I’m not going to be daft enough to suggest he isn’t good enough to come and play.
“Robbie played at an early age, I remember playing all those players when they were young but I did have a lot more leeway back then.
“I’ve got no leeway now with the Switzerland game. We need to get points on the board. I need to see who is fit and who is playing.”
