NafisaLeeds United target Troy Parrott has been told he could be “one of the top scorers in Europe” after his latest goal-scoring heroics for Ireland.
Troy Parrott scored an incredible hat-trick for Ireland to save their World Cup qualifying campaign, securing their place in the play-off with the last kick of the game against Hungary.
Leeds sent scouts to watch Parrott in the 2-0 win over Portugal, but he went one step further against Hungary in a dramatic victory for his side.
After the game, Parrott was compared to Ireland’s greats as he secured his fifth goal in two games, continuing his prolific run of form for the season.
Now, the former Tottenham man has been told he could be one of the top scorers in Europe after a thrilling individual performance.
Leeds United-linked Troy Parrott praised after Ireland heroics
Speaking to RTE Sport after Ireland’s dramatic victory, head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson praised the £25 million-rated Parrott for his game-changing intervention.
According to Hallgrimsson, Parrott could have been one of the top-scoring strikers in Europe were it not for an injury earlier this season, and he is pleased he has been able to show his true quality.
Hallgrimsson said: “He should enjoy this moment. Sadly for him, he got injured for a long spell early in the season, or he would have been one of the top scorers, if not the top scorer, in Europe.
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“He’s just shown his quality. Thank god for him now. This moment shouldn’t be about finding heroes; it should be about this team, the spirit, unity and hard work this team showed.
“I talked about before the game, the spiral this team is in. Now the next game will be bigger than this one. Portugal was big; this was bigger. The next one will be even bigger. If we win it, the next one will be even bigger.”
Troy Parrott secures most iconic moment for Ireland since Robbie Keane in 2002
Parrott’s goal means Ireland are now just two games away from securing their qualification for the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
There was a strong Leeds United connection in that Irish squad, with Ian Harte, Gary Kelly and Robbie Keane all travelling to Japan and South Korea for the tournament.
Keane produced one of the most iconic moments in Irish history at the tournament, scoring a late equaliser against Germany to secure Ireland’s qualification from the group stages, before repeating the trick in the knockout phase against Spain, before Ireland lost on penalties.
Ireland came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, before Thierry Henry robbed them of their place with his handball in the playoff against France.
Having fired Ireland into the play-offs, Parrott will be desperate to get the chance to emulate former Leeds hero Keane in the global showpiece this summer.
Nafisa
Mustapha Sheidu