Troy Parrott is on standby for the Republic of Ireland squad for their friendly next week after the club's U21s were given first dibs on him.
The 17-year-old Tottenham Hotspur striker has been included in the Ireland U21 squad to face Armenia and Sweden in big European Championship qualifiers.
Parrott was originally named in Mick McCarthy’s provisional 40-man senior squad for next week’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland, but Irish U21s boss Stephen Kenny and McCarthy decided to drop him down for his first taste of football at that level, after he missed his first call-up through injury.
He will be available to step up to the senior squad should McCarthy be faced with any drop outs from his attacking options.
Kenny was full of praise for the way Spurs' academy and first team manager Mauricio Pochettino have handled Parrott's development.
"He’s not been able to play that many matches in the calendar year because of injuries but he had a very good pre-season which he benefited from," he was quoted as saying in the Irish Mirror.
"We forget he was still eligible for the U17 finals this summer. He has done brilliantly and it speaks volumes for his talent.
"He has been nurtured. He’s flourishing at the moment and has scored goals in the U23s team."
He added: "We’re looking forward to having him as we’ve not had him. We've selected him but he’s not been available so it will be great for him to make that step up.
"It’ll be great for the Irish public to see him too. We’ve some young strikers in this squad, five of them, and they’re all exciting in their own right."
Ireland host Armenia at Tallaght Stadium next Friday before an away clash with Sweden four days later.
