Republic of Ireland coach Mick McCarthy insists he cannot argue with Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho if he does not want to give playing time to young star Troy Parrott.

Troy Parrott and James McCarthy look like missing out on Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia after manager Mick McCarthy insisted they both have a queue ahead of them to jump.

Keith Andrews has refused to rule out joining the backroom team of Ireland manager-elect Stephen Kenny but admits he’s an ambitious coach.

James McClean has emerged as a major injury doubt for Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia next month after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury.

“We all know it’s hard,” he said yesterday. “But we’ve got to believe we can do it. The first one is the key. If we win the first one, I think we’ll win the second one. We’ll get momentum (and) we’ll win the second one.

“I’m not bothered what length of contract he’s got, it’s about playing football, and he was deprived of that because of his age.”

The Irish international centre-half is seated in front of the dictaphone, reeling in the years.

Troy has to go through a process, says Jose.

With teenage sensations Idah, Connolly and Parrott on everyone’s lips, Liam Mackey reports from behind the scenes in Abbotstown as the newest generation of Irish internationals continue with their higher education.

There is a conversation from a couple years ago that sticks in the mind — and the craw — of Sean O’Shea.

The Cork teenager put three past Preston in a 4-2 win just three days after making his Premier League debut.

Norwich's injury crisis up front could leave the Corkman in the frame to start against Manchester United the following Saturday.

The term annus horribilis was used by Queen Elizabeth to describe the year 1992, in which three of her children’s marriages split up and one of her castles burnt down. Quite how horribilis things can really be when you get paid millions by the taxpayer to wave and shake hands with people was never fully looked into at the time.

The schoolboys’ clubs responsible for nurturing exciting starlets like Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly want the FAI to ditch the U13 National League after just one season.

Ireland’s Troy Parrott is set to make his Champions League debut this evening as Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho vows to give his fringe players a chance to impress against Bayern Munich.

Troy Parrott was handed his Premier League debut — and the match ball — by Jose Mourinho at the end of Tottenham’s 5-0 thrashing of Burnley, and could replace Harry Kane in their Champions League tie against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

There are obvious holes to be picked in the belief it is never a bad idea to watch a game of football.

Stephen Kenny believes Ireland’s Under-21 European qualification destiny will come down to their final game against Italy.

Troy Parrott was instrumental in a stunning second-half comeback to keep the Ireland U21s three points clear at the top of European Championship qualifying group heading into 2020.

Having saved their best till last, what a shame it was that Ireland’s hugely impressive performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark just wasn’t quite good enough to qualify us directly for Euro 2020.

Parrott scored a brace as a substitute when Ireland last played Sweden in September in a 3-1 comeback win.

Troy Parrott could yet return to Ireland’s U21s for tomorrow’s Euro qualifier against Sweden as manager Stephen Kenny will wait to see if the teen is involved for the seniors tomorrow night.

If the football career of Ireland U21 newcomer Thomas O’Connor’s doesn’t work out, there’s a fair chance he’ll end up hurling at Nowlan Park.

Well, yes, and here we go again… But before we get into ‘Dane-ja vu’ or even ‘Oh, Dane-ger here’ territory, a word of two about the headlines that got away on account of Troy Parrott being so inconsiderate towards us hacks as to refrain from crowning his senior debut, at the ridiculously tender age of 17, with the goal or two or even three which we were all demanding.

'He has not been that talkative (in camp this week) but he stood up and sung last night.'

Nothing seems to faze Troy Parrott.

Who was your man-of-the-match?

The Aviva wasn't exactly the place to be tonight but it's no stretch to say that most of those fans who made the effort would have had a debut goal for a much-hyped wunderkind near the top of their list of wants and needs.

Ger McCarthy picks out the key lessons learned as the Republic of Ireland defeated New Zealand 3-1 in tonight's friendly.

After missing two earlier chances, Zack Elbouzedi was relieved to be Ireland’s matchwinner in Armenia to keep their Euro U21 qualification journey on track.

It’s actually not all about the boy tonight but the build-up to Troy Parrott’s senior debut against New Zealand can certainly make it seem that way.

Nathan Collins is confident that decimated Ireland can keep their U21 European Championship challenge on course in Armenia today.

Troy Parrott has described Aaron Connolly’s double breakthrough into the Premier League and Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifying campaign as a source of inspiration, as the young Spurs hot shot prepares to make his own senior debut against New Zealand.

Barring any training ground mishaps, two boys in green can be expected to dominate attention in tomorrow night’s friendly against New Zealand at the Aviva.

As Ireland’s U21 Euro campaign threatens to come unstuck, Aiden Keena feels he can aid their revival in Armenia tomorrow.

Manchester City goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will make his Ireland U21 debut in Thursday's European Championship qualifier against Armenia.

With the decisive battle to come next Monday at the Aviva, there’s no getting away from the phoney war status of Ireland’s friendly against New Zealand at the same venue on Thursday night.

Spurs teenager Troy Parrott and Celtic's Lee O'Connor both make the move up from Stephen Kenny's U21 squad

First, it was Aaron Connolly and now it’s Troy Parrott – two stars who have been lost to the Irish U21 team as Mick McCarthy makes an offer than can’t be refused.

Stephen Kenny has said that he is delighted for Troy Parrott that the 17-year-old Spurs player has received his first senior Ireland call-up even though it means the U21 manager will be without his star striker for next Thursday’s Euro 2021 qualifier away to Armenia.

Parrott will become the third youngest ever Irish international on Thursday week in a friendly that will act as an audition for the decisive Euro qualifier against Denmark.