Spurs are struggling for striker options currently while an ex youth product is scoring for fun on the international stage.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood has slammed his former club for allowing Troy Parrott to leave the club as he excels on international duty for the Republic of Ireland.
The 23-year-old scored an emphatic hat-trick as Ireland beat Hungary 3-2 on Sunday night in a fixture that came just days after the player registered a brace in a surprise home win over Portugal. Those goals against Cristiano Ronaldo and co. included a 96th minute winner.
Parrott’s form has got the footballing world talking and could be painful viewing for Tottenham Hotspur. The forward is a product of the Spurs academy but only ever made four appearances for the first team before leaving to join AZ Alkmaar for just £6.7 million.
Tim Sherwood slams Tottenham Hotspur for past transfer
Speaking on Sky Sports today, Sherwood admitted that Parrott is probably better than any of Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, who are the options currently available to Spurs boss Thomas Frank.
He said: “I was working with the Development Team for a long time, I loved that job. I went back in and had a chat with Troy, who was one of the stars of the time. I could tell when I was talking to him, he had a little bit of steel in his eye, a little bit of determination. I just fell in love with the kid’s personality - that, I’m going to get where I need to be and no one is going to stop me.
“Unfortunately for Troy, he’s had to leave Tottenham to do that. I’ve got a big question to anyone who decided to let Troy Parrott go. I’m not saying he’d be the answer for Tottenham for many years to come and take him to the Champions League, but give him the opportunity to do that.
“I’m not sure he’s had a fair opportunity to prove himself. He’s had to go to AZ to do that. He’s not just appeared all of a sudden over these last two games for Republic of Ireland, he’s been banging in goals like you wouldn’t believe in Holland. We know it’s an easier platform over there but he never got the opportunity to show his quality for Tottenham.
“Tottenham have signed players for £50 million playing in Troy’s position and I can tell you now, they are not as good as Troy Parrot. You might as well have saved your money, given this kid an opportunity and spent it elsewhere. They need to look at that for the future.”
Ex Millwall striker in tears after Republic of Ireland success
Parrott was sent out on five loan spells during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. One of those was to London outfit Millwall during the 2020/21 campaign. The youngster struggled to get going at The Den amid injuries and managed 14 goalless appearances before being recalled in January.
After scoring his hat-trick, Parrott let out tears as he spoke to RTE Sport. He said: "Yeah, I am really, really emotional right now. They are tears of joy. Oh, what a night, what a night. I can't believe it, I really can't believe it. This is why we love football because things like this can happen. I love where I am from so this means the world to me; my family is here.
“It's the first time I have cried in years as well. I said against Portugal that it's what dreams are made of but this tonight, I don't think I will ever have a better night in my whole life. That really is a fairytale. You can't even dream about something like that. I honestly have no words to describe the emotions right now.
“I think everyone wrote us off at the start of the group. I couldn't have said it enough, that there is always a chance... and we have taken the chance. I think everyone should be proud of the players over there. To go down in the game twice and come back like that, it's beautiful."
In other news, 'Fantastic' Tottenham Hotspur star could be Ledley King 2.0 - it's not Cristian Romero.