TROY PARROTT AND Jack Byrne will make their first senior international starts for Ireland against New Zealand in tomorrow night’s friendly at the Aviva Stadium.
Mick McCarthy confirmed this morning that the duo will start the game, along with Irish U21 and Celtic defender Lee O’Connor. Spurs striker Parrot is just 17, and will become Ireland’s third-youngest senior debutant after Robbie Keane and Jimmy Holmes.
“He’s a bright, very intelligent footballer that’s very good with the ball at his feet”, said McCarthy of Parrott.
“He did some really good things yesterday. I think he found it tough enough, it was intense, but he enjoyed it.
“I don’t think I’ve seen his full potential yet in the couple of training sessions we’ve had, but he did something yesterday when the ball came into him. He turned and got his shot off, which was terrific, and you could see from that little cameo that he’s got something special.”
Like all debutants, Parrott will have to undergo the traditional initiation ceremony of singing in front of team-mates at dinner – although McCarthy said the striker has promised not to repeat his One Direction number ahead of his debut with the U15s.
Parrott made his senior debut for Tottenham in the Carabao Cup against Colchester United in September, and has been terrific form at other levels for Spurs, recently scoring four times in a Uefa Youth League game with Red Star Belgrade.
Byrne, meanwhile, will start among the midfield three, which will be his first senior start having made his debut in September’s friendly with Bulgaria. It caps a great few weeks for Byrne, who has collected awards both collective – the FAI Cup – and individual – PFAI Player of the Year – at the end of a fantastic debut season with Shamrock Rovers.
“I want him to do what he does for Shamrock Rovers, which is to get hold of the ball, pass it, create chances, keep the ball moving, recycle it for others and he doesn’t give it away.
“His free kicks and corner deliveries are good, and his penalties are excellent having seen the one in the cup final, that was a great penalty.
“Look it’s not Denmark, by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s a big international game, New Zealand are treating it as a big international game. So for Jack, it will be. For him to showcase what he’s got.”
The team tomorrow night is unlikely to feature any of those slated to start the effective play-off with Denmark on Monday night, and McCarthy said few are expected to feature even as substitutes.
Darren Randolph definitely won’t play against New Zealand, with Kieran O’Hara and Mark Travers both set to play at some point.
Ireland have no new injury concerns ahead of tomorrow’s game.
- Originally published at 10.38
Liverpool will win with ease.
You won the village idiot award of the day already.
I don’t remember that.
You won a cuckoo clock
Nice to see Mata start again ahead of Lingard people will moan about Fellaini but was good in last two rounds.. My biggest worry is a sending off for him.
Do you think Mata will be gone next year if Jose shows up? I hope not.
Bleedin FA cup is turning into Super Bowl
It’s sad United used to win league titles and the champions league….they are happy trying to get 4th every season and winning the FA cup. Paul Scholes was right United have turned into Arsenal. #eraisover
Don’t worry don’t cry..
It’s been three season since United won last, get over yourself. No-one can stay at the top forever.
What makes you say they are happy. United fans are furious at the drop in form over the last 4 years
Classic clattenburg cock up there, how is he considered the best ref right now?
Ya he’s a disgrace, bottled sending cabaye and Delaney off. Going out to injury players is an utter disgrace . He had no problem throwing around yellows cards for hand bags but ignores leg breakers.
Palace will feel very aggrieved with that decision. Poor refereeing from Clattenberg.
You pop up infrequently but ref decisions go for or against in every game. Reality is United fans would prefer 4th over FA, just like Liverpool. Ye will do well under Klopp and you know that.
C’mon Palace!
Haha GGMU
Scottish Cup Final 3-2 Hibernian beat Rangers, one of the best games of football I have seen for years even considering it was Scottish football
The pitch invasion after was even better….hup the Hibees!
Disallowed goal. Answers on a postcard please.
Pardew should have a good interview if they lose….
I’m hoping for a 2-1 win for United. I can’t see Palace making it as comfortable for United as they did at Old Trafford in April.
Martin Keown is the worst commentator
Ever !
Woohoo. Deserved win.
United are so boring to watch. Awful first half from a neutral perspective
From a neutral point of view I was looking forward to both games today. Scottish cup was brilliant, this has been really poor. Clattenberg is a wab.
Commiserations to Crystal Palace. Worthy finalists, and it could have gone either way. Congrats to Man United.
Please not another 30 mins.. #Dire
Do you not realise that you can change the channel.
Get in thereeeeeeeeee !!!!!
Ah christ Fellaini starts :-(
At least he’s not playing as a striker or attacking mid…
He’s good for a few peoples elbows.
He’ll properly score then
LVG OUT.
#Moyes in.
He gone now
Expect Man Utd to win, LvG did steady the ship towards the end and looked better, just do not know which Palace team will show up……
How did he? They fooked fourth place away…
A top 4 finished was thrown away long before the last few games , that last few just made it still mathematically possible
4th was being fooked away by Man City… You do actually follow what happens, right?
They fooked away a lot more then fourth place, you do actually follow what happens?
So, you gave up on your original comment? You do follow what you are saying, right?
How am I!!? Utd did fook away fourth place but previously city fooked away any chance they had of winning the league. So again, do you follow it at all??
Fooking hell lads
He properly saw van Goals tactics
PUNCHEON!!!!!
Great win for Hibs!
Damian Delaney was outstanding.Martin O’Neill, please ask Damian to play for Ireland, ignore Keane, he won’t refuse.
It’s o Neill that has the problem with him
I was of the option that Delaney had a problem with Keane since Ipswitch.
Ya he did have a falling out with Keane at Ipswich, but he was asked about it before and said’ its not Roy who had the problem with me at all ‘. There was talk that he would only come back if he was guaranteed a start. O Neill told him where to go
Will take it and be glad of a cup. Springboard for better things hopefully.
What sort of a dirtbag , takes off his club shirt and throws it on the ground after scoring, the mind boggles .
Yours would !
…….
disgraceful scenes.
oops wrong article
Just some prlck lads, move along.
Well done to Palace , a great game best final in years
It was a terrible game. What you talking about Willis
Someone tell who the second commentator on TV3 is!! It’s driving me mad
Welsh hippy we did enjoy that .
Great win , great week for United fans
Yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh
Years ago winning the fa cup meant something unfortunately not nowadays…
Fellaini for man of the match!