Troy Parrott has been told he must break into Tottenham’s first-team before he cracks the Ireland senior side.
The teenage sensation scored twice in the Under-21s stunning 3-1 win in Sweden on Tuesday.
It was his third goal in two games since making his debut at that level in last week’s win over Armenia.
While Mick McCarthy won't shut the door on Parrott featuring in next month’s key Euro 2020 games, he wants to see him do it at a higher level first.
Parrott, 17, featured for Tottenham in pre-season and is in their Champions League squad for the campaign ahead.
He could make his competitive debut in the League Cup clash away to Colchester on Tuesday week.
McCarthy said: “Let's say there’s a scenario where he gets in the team and plays for Spurs and scores a couple of goals.
“Stephen (Kenny) won't be having him. And by the way, he (Kenny) would acknowledge that he should come and be in my squad then.
“Nobody is ruled out. But it does help playing first-team and can I just say something to you?
“I've had 970-odd games as a manager and coach and I might just be given that bit of credence. I can tell the difference.
“The Under-23s (where Parrott plays for Tottenham) is a very gentle league compared to any of the others. Technical, yes.
“I'll still go and watch it. I'm not ruling him out and I'm not saying he's going to be in.”
McCarthy has scrapped naming a provisional squad for next month’s double-header in Georgia and Switzerland.
Instead, he will select a trimmed down, final squad on October 1.
But Parrott is up against it, not least because the high-flying Under-21s have key qualifiers against Italy and Iceland at the same time as the seniors.
Games are running out for McCarthy's team and with qualification on the line, the manager insists this is not a time to experiment.
“I'll have to name my squad and Stephen has to name his,” he said. “I don't get that much time, do I? I get time to go in and play games.
“I don't rule any of them out, but I keep telling you - I've got eight games in which to qualify. I'm not trying and testing people.
“I did against Bulgaria but nine of the players have played in nearly all of the games, so why would I be looking to change that?
“Josh Cullen came in and played in the first-team and so has Alan Browne but they’re playing regularly (for their clubs).”
But McCarthy was impressed with Parrott’s attitude when responding in such deadly fashion to being dropped.
He continued: “It was interesting because all the talk was about him after the game (against Armenia) last Friday. I don't know why.
“And Stephen didn't (start) him in Sweden so he obviously thought the same. It was Connolly and Molumby who shone but fair play to him to come on and score the goals.
“I love that attitude, it's something else and I think it’s brilliant to react like that after being left out.
“Over the years I've seen players sulk when they’re left out and when they come on they don't do it. He's quite clearly got a great attitude.”
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