As Spurs continue to stutter through games and Jose Mourinho keeps making excuses, the murmurings surrounding Troy Parrott's exclusion from the first team picture have been getting louder.
While Irish football fans have long been calling for him to be given an opportunity, the case for not doing so seems to be getting weaker on a game-by-game basis. Not only are Spurs currently without Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, but they look completely toothless in attack.
Mourinho continues to lament the lack of a 'number nine' saying the likes of Lucas Moura Steven Bergwijn are not capable of carrying out the role in a satisfactory manner. He also insists that he has no choice but to persist with the current personnel.
The possibility of bringing Parrott in to fill this spot hasn't really crossed his mind. Mourinho is hardly known for blooding youngsters, but you would have thought the circumstances would dictate an exception was made here.
However, it looks as though some at the club share the manager's opinion that the Irishman is not ready.
Having an in-depth look at Parrott's situation on The Athletic, Charlie Eccleshare and David Ornstein said that there is a slight concern about the player's attitude as of late:
Sources have told The Athletic that there have been questions over Parrott’s mentality and application of late.
Others have registered surprise at the striker’s apparent immaturity, especially when surrounded by his mates. Mourinho meanwhile appeared to suggest the player lacks “emotional control” last week.
This seems a bit harsh on a player who only this month turned 18-years old, especially when you consider that nobody at the club had a bad word to say about him up until this point. If such concerns were present, why would they give him a brand new three-year contract a few weeks ago?
The timing of this seems a bit suspicious. Mourinho has been under increasing pressure to play Parrott in recent weeks, with many with links to Spurs not understanding why he won't give him an opportunity to stake a claim for some regular playing time.
Could this be the club's effort to attempt to cool the hype around Parrott, and thus ease the pressure on their manager? It certainly seems like it has Mourinho's fingerprints all over it.
