Ireland players are enhancing their club career prospects by performing for the national team. It has not been this way for decades.Stephen Kenny has created a Champions League narrative around John Egan. The Republic of Ireland captain is currently playing for Sheffield United in the English Championship. Bramall Lane is a long way from the Bernabéu but Belgium manager Roberto Martínez struggled to tell the difference between Madrid and a raucous Aviva stadium last Saturday night.
But Parrott is the glaring illustration. Instead of wondering where the Dubliner lands after a tricky loan season at MK Dons, the conversation is firmly centred around his best position. Snatching victory off Lithuania with an injury-time pile-driver will do that. “Troy is still learning. He could end up in the play-offs this year at Wembley, so it is all good experiences. Let’s see how he gets on. He is a terrific young man and he’s very popular in the dressing room, he’s a good teammate.
Kenny did express concern about the four teenagers signing for Italian clubs. Mainly because they are entering the unknown. But unlike previous Irish managements, the progress of each pioneer - Kevin Zefi at Inter, Cathal Heffernan atAmazing support