View: Troy Parrott needs gift of time as derby-day heroics sure to impress Tottenham coaches
We all often feel like we could do with more time and for the in-form Troy Parrott that is quite literally the case during his loan spell at Excelsior from Tottenham.
The Republic of Ireland striker had a day to remember as he scored a 94th-minute winner in the Rotterdam derby against Sparta on Sunday (1 October), a moment sure to endear himself to the club’s supporters.
It followed on from scoring his first goal for the Eredivisie club in a 3-0 victory over Heerenveen and his goalscoring exploits are sure to have caught the eye of Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou.
The only issue now, you feel, is the lack of time he is getting on the pitch. Thus far, the 21-year-old has made four substitute appearances for Excelsior, totalling only 47 minutes.
Parrott will be chomping at the bit to earn more playing time and have greater opportunities to impress Postecoglou and the rest of his coaching staff at Hotspur Way.
He was only on the pitch for eight minutes in total against Sparta, scoring from his sole shot on target, having only eight touches of the ball, winning one aerial duel and completing four out of the six passes he attempted (Sofascore).
Of course, if he keeps making these sort of goalscoring statements off the bench then his Excelsior boss Marinus Dijkhuizen will not be able to keep him benched for much longer and those coveted starts may be more forthcoming.
And when they do present themselves, Parrott has to be ready to pounce because there is a great opportunity for someone to make a real claim for the number nine role at Spurs in the coming years.
Harry Kane is in the rearview mirror, Son Heung-min is approaching his mid-30s, and Richarlison is yet to convince he can take on the mantle of being Spurs’ main striker.
There is no shortage of in-house talent who could step up to the plate, with Parrott himself among a trio of players including Dane Scarlett, currently on loan at Ipswich Town, and Jamie Donley, who is impressing for the Under-21s, among those vying for the spot long term.
Scarlett (19) and Donley (18) are both younger than Parrott and, as a result, it feels like this loan move could be last chance saloon if he wants to make a name for himself in the Premier League with Tottenham.
He is certainly making the right noises. Now he needs the gift of time from Dijkhuizen.
In other Tottenham news, John Wenham believes that one forward at the club has become “Mr Tottenham.”