What Stephen Kenny has said about Troy Parrott as Irish striker pictured with Kinahan associate

Troy Parrott has been backed by Stephen Kenny to be a star for the Boys in Green.

The striker, 19, who has no involvement in crime, was pictured in Dublin with a Kinahan associate earlier this week.

Parrott posed for a picture alongside Nathan Little, 22, who was identified by the Criminal Assets Bureau as being a member of the Byrne Organised Crime Group.

The Spurs ace scored two badly needed goals for Ireland earlier this month to give them the lead against Andorra, who had taken the lead in the friendly.

Kenny's side went on to win the game 4-1 and the manager was full of praise for Parrott afterwards.

He said: “I think he’ll get better. He was more fluid a year-and-a-half ago in his movement. He was lighter on his feet and had real instinctive creativity.

“He's grown into his own body in the last year-and-a-half and, all of a sudden, he's got stronger shoulders and he's not moving as fluently.

“That's been a factor for him. What he needs is confidence because all young players need good experiences to improve again.

“He's had loan spells where he's actually had some good games, but he's played on the left a lot and in different positions and maybe not been prolific in front of goal.

“He’s still very young and he still has a lot of improving to do and people aren't sure what his best position is.

“But he has the ability to create and score goals and we need as much of that as we can get."

The Ireland boss echoed those comments ahead of Ireland's 0-0 draw with Hungary, saying: “We have to maximise his talent. He’s had that career, even in the Irish underage teams, where he’s been used in a lot of positions.

“And he has tactical flexibility at club level - at Millwall they played 3-4-3 and he played on the left a lot.

“At Ipswich, he wasn't used as a number nine but that is what Tottenham see him as. He definitely has the capacity to play higher and play in that attacking No 10 position.

“He’s good at linking the play as well, and has the capacity to arrive late and score goals, so he definitely can play that.”