Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho questioned over 'stubborn' treatment of one Spurs player

Posted Thursday, March 05, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho questioned over 'stubborn' treatment of one Spurs player
Tottenham news: Jose Mourinho has been questioned for not playing Troy Parrott (Image: GETTY/BBC)

Jose Mourinho has refused to give Tottenham starlet Troy Parrott a run in the team despite a striker shortage.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho should have given young striker Troy Parrott more of an opportunity in recent weeks, says former Stoke and Republic of Ireland forward Jonathan Walters. Parrott, 18, has made three appearances for Spurs, with two of those as late substitutes in the Premier League. Some Tottenham fans have called for the teenager to be given a chance due to the long-term injuries suffered by first-choice strikers Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

But Mourinho has instead chosen to back midfielder Dele Alli in a false No 9 position in recent weeks.

Parrott was named on the bench for the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Norwich on Wednesday.

But Walters, who knows Parrott from the Republic of Ireland set-up, reckins the match against the Canaries was a perfect opportunity to throw the youngster into from the start.

“I think Mourinho’s going to be a bit stubborn with it,” Walters said on the BBC.

“I think he came out this week and said everyone’s calling for him to play but they don’t even know what he looks like.

“He’s a prolific youth team scorer, he’s thought very highly of, he’s already played for the Republic of Ireland.

“I think he’s got a big, big future ahead of him and for me it’s a great game to throw him into.

“You’ve got [Grant] Hanley at the back for Norwich, a sort of an old school centre-half.

“I know through the Irish setup how highly he’s thought of, he’s done so well for the under-21s.

“Stephen Kenny is obviously going to take the Republic job and probably take him through to the first-team level as well.

“So it’s a good game for him to get involved but you’ve got Dele Alli who’s been playing a false No 9, Lucas Moura who can score goals, scored a hat-trick in a Champions League semi-final.”

Walters was not surprised to see Parrott on the bench but does not agree that Alli is a better option up front than him.

“I’m not surprised [Parrott did not start] because it’s Mourinho and he won’t relent to the pressure,” he added.

“But he’s been saying Alli is the closest thing to a No 9 - Troy Parrott is.

“He would have played there all through the youth team, that’s his position.

“That’s not Alli’s position so he’ll know how to play that position.

“I think he’s going to have a big, big future ahead of him, I think he’s a very good player.

“High things are thought of him. International level he’s already been capped at senior level and with the new manager taking over from Mick McCarthy I’m sure he’ll take him up to senior level full time as well.”