Nathan Collins is delighted to see Troy Parrott “shine” and always hoped he would be the star of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls.
Ireland will face Czechia in the qualifying play-off semi-final on Thursday as they look to take another step towards reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since 2002.
And it is thanks to Parrott that Ireland is in this position in the first place; He scored five goals in the November international break to lift them to second place in Group F.
He scored a brace against Portugal in a 2-0 home win, and all three in a 3-2 win over Hungary, scoring the winning goal with the last kick of the match, to keep Ireland’s dreams alive.
But Brentford defender Collins was not surprised by his performances.
“I’ve played with Troy for many years. He’s always been a very good footballer,” he said.
Back in green pic.twitter.com/5L426BKdez
– Irish Football (@IrelandFootball) March 23, 2026
“In football, sometimes it doesn’t click on the field, that doesn’t mean you’re a good footballer, that you understand the game or that you know how good it is.
“There are many different variables and reasons why it may not be clicking at that moment.
“But there has always been a footballer in Troy. I am very happy now that he is shining and showing how good he is.”
Parrott’s five goals in his last two appearances for the national team make him only the fourth player to score two or more goals in consecutive appearances for Ireland, after Jimmy Dunne (May 1936), Robbie Keane (June 2013) and Callum Robinson (October 2021).
No one has accomplished that feat in three straight games.
