I HAD FEARS ABOUT BATTLE OF TROY

Doyle doubted Parrott's ability to lead the line

- BY MARK McCADDEN

KEVIN DOYLE has revealed how he once feared that a key aspect of Troy Parrott’s game would prevent him from reaching his potential.

However, the former Ireland striker is delighted to have been proven wrong.

Parrott was still a teenager when he made his Tottenham debut, and he had to live with the expectation of a nation starved of footballing success.

It was a bumpy road for the Dubliner, who didn't progress with the Premier League side and struggled to make an impact on-loan, until he made the move to the Netherlands.

Since his spell with Excelsior, and his subsequent move to AZ, Parrott has begun to live up to that early promise. And his five goals last November against Portugal and Hungary that propelled Ireland to the World Cup playoffs will live long in the memory.

However, ex-Ireland star Doyle feared that he wouldn't have the physicality to make it at the very top.

Doyle knows all about the rigours of top-level football, having played 62 times for Ireland and 167 times in the Premier League.

He said: "I know when I first saw him play for Ireland, I questioned his physicality and his ability to deal with it, especially as a lone striker.