Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott has been in brilliant form for his new club AZ Alkmaar, and has attracted a lot of attention.
The Irishman started his career with a lot of hope and expectation, so when times got hard, he had to deal with a lot of flak from fans, media and pundits.
However, the young striker has now settled in Holland, and is playing his best football yet. In fact, even Dutch legend Rafael van der Vaart was willing to give high praise, and he is infamous for being overly critical.
"I think he’s going to be a very big player. I don’t know what it is. I saw him at Excelsior, but then it was more on the counter.
“Now he is a good, footballing striker, who actually has everything. He just has to develop the killing a bit. He can perhaps play football a little too well to be a killer.
‘“Then you start wandering a bit and that costs strength. In the final phase you lack some strength to score. I really think he is a gem.”
In an interview Sky Sports, Parrott was asked if he seen the comments from the former Dutch international, but his response was rather telling.
READ HERE: The PFA Ireland Team of the Year For 2024 Has Been Revealed
READ HERE: Ferguson Shows Extreme Pettiness Towards Roy Keane With Van Der Sar Claim
"Encouraging comments are always nice to see. I have learned nothing good comes from that. I think I will be my own biggest critic but I will also give myself a pat on the back if I know I am doing well.
"For me, it is just about keeping that level head and not reading too much into a bad game or a good game."
This is an interesting approach from the young goal-getter who has clearly learned a lot in his short time as a professional footballer.
The ex Tottenham youngster has been built up in the past by the media only to be torn right down, so this ability to take the good and bad with a pinch of salt shows he has reached a new level of maturity with his game.
In terms of his actual game, Parrott explains the one difference in his game that has really helped him reach that next level.
"The thing that helped me the most last season was that I realised I was a striker who needed to be in the box. On a couple of the loans that I had, I tried to show my ability to come deep and link play. A lot of the time, I was too far away from the goal to score.
"I worked a lot with the coach at Excelsior on just being in the box, being there when the ball is getting crossed. I think for me that was the biggest thing, just drilling it into my own head that ultimately you're a striker and you need to be in the box to score goals."
After being released from Tottenham, the Ireland international had a feeling that he would be returning very soon, and that proved to be the case as he prepares to face them in the Europa League tomorrow night.
When asked if he has any regrets about his time with the London club, Parrott couldn't think of any.
"No, I don't think I have any regrets. I am grateful for how the club treated me, helping me to grow up as a person and a player. I can't really look back. This is the position I always wanted to be in, playing professional football. I understand that I am on my own journey.
"Those expectations are hard for any young player. I'm speaking like I am old, I'm still young now! It is just the experience I had, being out on all the loans and stuff, is more than what I should have at this age. But it is something a lot of young players go through.
"I believe for me I've learned to just put that to the side. It does more harm than it does good. Just to block all that out. I am happy now, being able to showcase what I can do week in and week out at a big team playing in Europe. It is what I wanted when I moved here."
Parrot did admit that getting a goal against his former club "would be really nice" and with the form he is in at the moment, it wouldn't surprise anyone if he pulls it off.
