Troy Parrott says he took Jose Mourinho's comments on board when the Tottenham boss insisted he wasn't ready for the Premier League.
Ireland's teenage striker was handed his top flight debut by the Portuguese gaffer last December.
But Parrott, 18, found first first team opportunities limited despite earning a contract extension until 2023 before securing a loan move to Millwall ahead of the new season.
Mourinho outlined his plans for Parrott in March, insisting: "He's not ready. He’s a good kid we want to help, not only on the pitch but off it.
"He’s a kid who’s going to have a real opportunity but when we decide it’s right."
Parrott - who earned an Ireland cap in a 3-1 win over New Zealand last year and is in Stephen Kenny's squad for the upcoming Nations League games - took those comments on the chin.
"To be fair, he’s such an experienced manager and he’s done nearly everything in the game, so if he feels like that’s right then there must be some truth in it and I had to take it on the chin," the Dubliner told News at Den.
"I knew I just had to keep my head down in training and keep working hard. And getting this loan now is hopefully going to help me improve and push on.
"There were little conversations that were being had. I was speaking to coaching staff and players finding out what I needed to do to be better.
"Because obviously Mourinho has worked with some of the best strikers there’s ever been, to get advice off him was great.
"I knew what I needed to do. It was helpful advice."
Parrott revealed how Ireland team-mate Jayson Molumby played a part in him moving on loan to The Den.
Midfielder Molumby is poised for his first Ireland cap ahead of the clashes with Bulgaria and Finland after impressing during his loan stint at Millwall last season.
A meeting with Lions boss Gary Rowett also made a big impression on Parrott.
"I just felt like I could trust him from the start," Parrott said of Rowett.
"I had a good gut feeling. I liked the way he explained the way the club worked, how everyone is together and how the team plays.
"I kind of bought into it and into him straight away. That's really why I made the decision to come to Millwall.
"I spoke to Gary probably twice before anything was agreed and I just had that gut feeling that it was the right place for me to go. I obviously spoke to Jayson Molumby a lot about the club, he told me only good things.
"I watched last season and I saw how well they did. I don’t see why we can’t push on even more this season and get into those play-off positions.
"I was looking at the quality that they had, and when I met Gary it just sealed it for me."
