Maturing Troy Parrott ready to bring AZ form to Ireland fold

Troy Parrott is back in camp with the Republic of Ireland and if he gets on the pitch against Finland or Greece, then this international window will have gone better than the last one.

The striker was left on the bench for 2-0 defeats to both England and Greece at the Aviva Stadium last month but new manager Heimir Halgrimsson has shown some level of faith by bringing Parrott back into the fold for the the jaunts to Helsinki and Athens.

Before the squad flew off, Parrott indicated that while he respected the new man's decisions, he was a little disgruntled at missing out during the September double-header.

"It's disappointing," said the AZ Alkmaar man. "As a player, you always want to play. I’ve had some good moments for Ireland. To not play and not get a chance to show myself was disappointing but it’s not something I’m going to sit around and cry about. We’re here now, it’s a new camp and we’ll have to see what happens.

"It’s the manager’s decision. I can only come here and be as fit as I can, train the best I can and see what happens.

"I’m not really the type to ask a lot of questions. If he’s made that decision then that’s his decision. It’s gone, I can’t change what’s happened. I’ve come in again and I hope I can get some minutes this time."

Any pent-up frustration was released by Parrott in the right way, as just days after leaving the camp he fired in four goals in a 9-1 victory for AZ against Heerenveen in the Dutch top flight.

He then went on to score his first goal in European club football, in a Europa League win over Elfsborg, and the 22-year-old is certainly doing what many of his international peers aren't, that is finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

"I’ve been enjoying it," he said. "I’ve been enjoying