Jose Mourinho does not believe Troy Parrott is ready to step into Harry Kane's shoes at Tottenham.
Spurs face an anxious wait to find out the extent of Kane's hamstring injury after the England skipper limped off during the defeat to Southampton on New Year's Day.
Kane will miss the FA Cup third round clash with Middlesbrough on Sunday, but the full extent of his spell on the sidelines is not yet known.
Mourinho does not think Parrott is ready for an extended run in the Spurs first team, but did offer the teenage striker hope of c all-up for the squad to face Boro on Sunday.
He said: "It's possible, it's possible," when asked if he could play against Boro.
"I think too soon [to replace Harry]. I think one thing is potential and another thing is conditions to express potential and I think he needs time.
"Having minutes, being involved is one thing. Another thing is what you call the direct replacement. To be that he needs to work. There are many different processes of a player to develop, in some cases the loans are very good.
"You have the example of Harry Kane or Tammy Abraham. In other cases no need of a loan because the development at the parent club is more natural.
"He's 17 years old. I don't think at the age of 17 it's good for you to go on loan to a Championship club or to go abroad to another country.
"My feeling is one thing is when you are 20 if you need that step when you are 19/20, another thing is when you are 17. When you are 17 you are a baby. 17 you just have to be in your father club where you feel at home, where you are at home, where you train and develop with the first team.
"Where some minutes will arrive like it happened against Burnley, and step by step but not in a situation where we see Harry Kane is injured and Parrott is the man to resolve our problems."
Mourinho then told Parrott to sign a new deal with Spurs.
He added: "The next step for him is to sign a new contract at the club long-term and then it is for everyone to decide what is the best for is development. In this club we care about our players. It is also to find the best pathway to develop."
