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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Troy Parrott will start Monday’s clash with Denmark on the bench but has said that he could have the chance to become a hero, per Irish News.

What’s the word?

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Parrott made his debut for Ireland last week, featuring in the 3-1 friendly win over New Zealand, having played just once for Spurs’ senior side.

However, Monday’s encounter against the Danes brings with it a far higher degree of difficulty.

Indeed, a win for McCarthy’s side would almost certainly see them qualify for Euro 2020, per ESPN, while Denmark are also looking to seal their progress with a victory.

Ireland have not beaten this opposition since 2007 and were thumped 5-1 in a play-off to determine qualification for the 2018 World Cup just two years ago.

McCarthy, though, is hopeful of victory, and Parrott could be given a chance to come off the bench and play a major role in helping his country to next summer’s tournament.

He said: “If the circumstances are right and all the stars are aligned, he might get a chance to come on.

“He might be on the bench and not play and that would be sad for him. [But] It’s an option and when you see his movement, it could be one of those things on a night as it is when it’s made for heroes, he might be the first one.”

Give him a chance, he’ll take it

Parrott is just 17, that must be said.

But at youth level, he’s been scoring goals for Spurs.

He has netted 15 in 13 outings for the U18s, eight in eight for the U19s and four in 13 for the U23s.

The message there is clear: If he gets a chance to score, he’ll likely take it.

And on a night when Ireland will have to be taking the chances that come their way, Parrott could well be their secret weapon off the bench.

A winning goal for the teenager would be what dreams are made of but we’ve seen it happen enough times not to rule it out.

Having hit the back of the net with regularity at junior level for his club, he will be hoping to write his name into folklore at the Aviva Stadium against the Danes.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Arthur Masuaku has spoken to Manuel Pellegrini about his role and future at West Ham United, according to Football Insider.

The 26-year-old is said to have been left frustrated by his lack of game time in recent months, after being omitted from the side in all of their last six league games, apart from the Everton match which Aaron Cresswell missed through injury.

Pellegrini has reassured the Democratic Republic of Congo international about his status at the club, indicating he can be reinstated into the team if he impresses in training.

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While there is a chance Masuaku could find himself back in the starting lineup, Pellegrini has been right to leave him out due to the events following the careless red card picked up against Aston Villa.

This is the case even if his performances before then, specifically the Man of the Match performance against Norwich City in which he assisted Sebastien Haller, are taken into account.

Cresswell, who hadn’t played in the league since the 5-0 mauling against Manchester City, came in against Manchester United and made himself undroppable.

Upon his return, Cresswell beat David de Gea with a sublime free-kick to secure a 2-0 win and he followed that up with a volley against AFC Bournemouth to steal a point.

His level has since dropped in tandem with the rest of the team, but the 29-year-old still has an average of 1.6 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per game, while maintaining a pass success rate of 81.4%.

Since the two yellow cards at Villa park saw Masuaku given his marching orders, he has had two opportunities to impress Pellegrini but slipped up both times.

The first of those was in a literal sense, as he lost his footing, allowing Tarique Fosu-Henry to run through and score Oxford United’s third goal on what was a humiliating evening for the club.

His other chance came against Everton, but he didn’t cover himself in glory there either, as his weak attempt at a tackle on Bernard allowed the Brazilian to skip through and score the game’s opener.

When all of the above is considered, it is very difficult to argue that Masuaku has deserved to start ahead of Cresswell.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte has been speaking to talkSPORT about the Saints’ turbulent campaign so far, and has also shared a pretty damning verdict on manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s credentials.

Fonte – a 40-cap Portugal international and European Championship winner – spent seven years at St Mary’s before leaving for West Ham in a deal worth £8m, having previously handed in a transfer request.

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The 35-year-old – who made a huge 286 appearances for the south coast side – has been discussing his former side’s tough campaign so far, in which they currently sit one point off the bottom of the table having also conceded the most goals in the Premier League with 29.

What did he say?

Fonte told talkSPORT: “It’s difficult to watch this struggle. This was a team and a club that was in such great shape a few years ago. We were consistently achieving top-six, top-ten finishes.

“I think they’re in a bad way, it’s easy to see for everyone. The manager, he doesn’t look like he’s capable of turning things around. I’m not really sure if he can do the job to be honest.”

Good to see some brutal honesty

For too long, those associated with Southampton have been treading on eggshells in regards to the sticky situation the Saints find themselves in.

Hasenhuttl keeps playing players out of position, having deployed midfielders Stuart Armstrong and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at right and left wing-backs respectively so far this season – maybe he is to blame, a shout that hasn’t been heard too much this season.

Fonte states that the Saints are “in a bad way”. That much is obvious. The team can’t stop conceding goals – Southampton ship 2.4 goals per game on average in the Premier League this term – and they also can’t seem to score them either. For context, they are the third-lowest scorers in the division with 11.

If Fonte, who hasn’t been at the club in years, can see the glaring issues going on, why can’t those at St Mary’s see them too and do something about them?

It’s time to stop tiptoeing around the real issues at the club.

In other news, Hasenhuttl has identified one key thing his Southampton team need to get back to doing.

Loads of Manchester United fans have been reacting on Twitter after a report by Diario Madridista, via The Mirror, suggested they would have to pay a €500m (£450m) release clause to bring Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde to Old Trafford.

Having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Bernabeu Stadium, the La Liga giants clearly have no intention of letting the Uruguay international considering the quite ridiculous fee it is claimed it would take for him to be prised away from the Spanish capital.

The Mirror says that while the Red Devils aren’t expected to go near Valverde’s reported price tag, they are expected to spend heavily during the next transfer window as they look to build on this season – they currently lie just outside of the top four in the Premier League as we wait for the 2019/20 campaign to resume.

Meanwhile, their South American target has scored two goals and provided a further four assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Real this term.

Many supporters simply laughed off the report, with one individual calling it “bonkers”.

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Considering it would be more than double the current world-record £200m fee that took Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona and given what is going on in the world right now, that is a fair conclusion.

Others compared the central midfield target with current United man Scott McTominay, who has been a regular fixture in the starting XI for United in 2019/20 – the Scot does have five goals in 27 games for the Red Devils this term.

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Some of these comments may come with an added bit of tongue in cheek, but there is certainly little to suggest that Valverde is any better, especially when you take his release clause into consideration.

Others chose to speak about Paul Pogba, who continues to be a divisive character at Old Trafford.

The France international has been linked with a move to Real Madrid countless times, with one fan suggesting a swap deal.

Another suggestesd that if Valverde is going to cost £450m, then Pogba must be worth £750m. Silly season, indeed.

In other Manchester United news, Red Devils fans have been swooning over a 17-year-old talent on Twitter…

Let’s take a look at the vault and dust off some of West Ham’s most iconic goal-scoring moments from over the years.

Ricardo Vaz Tê vs Blackpool (2012 Championship play-off final)

The Irons have experienced some real lows in their time, sinking into painful relegation scraps before accepting their fate and dropping down into the league below. But for a side like West Ham, promotion is almost guaranteed not long after.

After being relegated from the Premier League in the 2010/11 season, the Hammers only needed one term in the Championship before springing right back up into the top division. After coming third in the table, the London outfit faced Blackpool in the play-off final and played out an extremely cagey affair.

The match sat at 1-1 and looked sure to be heading to extra time, but Vaz Tê took it by the scruff of the neck and claimed the winner just three minutes before the 90. It was quite a scrappy goal after a collision in the box but the Portuguese forward smashed it over the line and into the roof of the net before celebrating emphatically.

Carlos Tevez vs Manchester United (2006/07 Premier League)

The Hammers have this man to thank for their survival in the 2006/07 season and they know it. Carlos Tevez was a force to be reckoned with, but West Ham were having a torrid time in the Premier League.

In the final game of the domestic campaign, the Irons desperately needed to get a win in order to survive the drop. They were up against already-crowned champions Manchester United, and fans were probably already accepting there was no chance.

But their Argentinian star man quite literally plucked a goal out of the sky after lofting the ball over the defence and slotting it into the net to give his side those crucial three points.

Winston Reid vs Manchester United (2015/16 Premier League)

The curtains were closing on West Ham’s era at Upton Park as they readied themselves to embark on a new adventure at London Stadium. So it was only right to go out with a bang.

Not only did the Irons snub opponents Manchester United’s hopes of a Champions League spot, but they bid farewell to their old ground with an astonishing victory. After it looked as though the match would end in United’s favour, two towering headers were produced in four minutes to snatch the win.

Winston Reid was on the end of the second one, guiding home a free-kick with a bullet header to see the Hammers end the season in seventh place. What a way to mark the end of a 112-year era.

What other iconic goal-scoring moments have you enjoyed as a West Ham fan? Let us know in the comments!

It’s fair to say David de Gea hasn’t enjoyed the greatest couple of seasons at Manchester United.

The Spain international had been the picture of consistency through the majority of the 2010s, earning multiple nominations to the PFA’s Team of the Year in the Premier League.

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But the last couple of campaigns has seen him form drop off sharply, with numerous games littered with poor goalkeeping mistakes and concentration lapses – you only have to look at his calamity against Everton at Goodison Park earlier this season to see that.

Now, on Duncan Castles’ Transfer Podcast, it has been suggested that United are not happy with the shot-stopper’s form since he signed a new contract, and that the club are open to selling him if they get an offer.

After hearing about the latest update on the future of their current number one, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

One United fan in particular suggested that giving De Gea one last season, before bringing Dean Henderson into the fold could be the way to go.

With Henderson due to return this summer after his second successive loan spell at Sheffield United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer certainly has someone who could fill De Gea’s shoes at Old Trafford almost immediately.

All Henderson needs is an opportunity and a chance to shine, and if De Gea does end up leaving, then United wouldn’t have to look too far to find a replacement for him.

A De Gea exit may not be the biggest disaster in the world this summer.

Jack Stobbs has tweeted his gratitude to his boyhood club after it was announced he would be leaving Sheffield Wednesday.

The 23-year-old found out earlier this month that his time at Hillsborough had come to an end and he is currently playing a ‘waiting game’ as he looks to move onto pastures new.

Speaking to The Star, Stobbs said: “As players we were doing so well, but fully understood the huge leap between U23s football and first-team football in the Championship. It doesn’t always work out like that, and that’s just the way football is sometimes.”

The long-time Wednesdayite was part of the U23 Owls side that won the Professional Development League Northern and National titles in the 2016/17 term. Stobbs played just three matches in Wednesday colours on the Championship stage (via Transfermarkt).

Many Owls fans have taken to Twitter to send their best wishes to the versatile forward, with many ‘disappointed’ to see him leave. One supporter has said ‘I’m gutted’ as they reflect on the years he has spent at the club.

Wednesday fans, would you have liked to see Stobbs break into the first team, or will he fare better at another club? Join the conversation in the comments…

Speaking to Football Insider, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton has suggested Leeds ace Barry Douglas could join the club this summer after his recent comments.

What did he say?

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are open to selling Douglas regardless of whether they earn promotion or not, and in a Q&A with Leeds’ official Twitter account, the defender admitted to supporting Rangers as a child after being born in Glasgow.

And now, Hutton has tipped Douglas to make the move up north, and insisted that his style of play could fit in perfectly with Steven Gerrard’s style of play.

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He said: “Yeah, possibly. I think you have to look at the Barisic situation. I think that would be a key factor if he was to stay or leave but look, I think Barry Douglas is an excellent player. He went abroad, did really well, came back to Wolves and I thought he was arguably their best player.

“A move to Rangers, with him saying he supports them, could be a good opportunity for him to get back on track, back playing. He’s a wonderful crosser of the ball so it’s something Rangers look for in a player so I think he could fit in but a lot would hinge on the Barisic thing. I wouldn’t imagine he wouldn’t want to come up north to be sitting on the bench.”

Coming home

As Hutton points out, Rangers already have an established and quality first-team left-back in Borna Barisic, who has enjoyed a storming season at Ibrox this year.

The Croatian has managed an incredible 14 assists in 39 games this season for the Gers, and so it’s difficult to see how Douglas could displace the 27-year-old if he did end up staying this summer.

But if he does move on, then bringing Douglas back home to his boyhood club in Rangers could be the kind of shrewd addition that would offset any pain of losing Barisic.

Noel Whelan has urged Tottenham striker Troy Parrott to find a new club next season, in an exclusive with Football Insider. 

The former Leeds United forward believes it is time for Parrott to join a Championship side on loan.

Tottenham recently revealed the youngster has undergone surgery to remove his appendix after scans showed signs of appendicitis, which has ruled him out for several weeks, via the club’s official website.

He will now start the recovery process and should be able to return to training by the end of June.

Nevertheless, the pundit feels he wasn’t a part of Jose Mourinho’s plans anyway, as Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have recovered from injury.

Whelan told football writer Dylan Childs: “I cannot see him getting an opportunity in the near future, not now that Harry Kane is fit and everyone is back in full training.

“He is a player that has got immense talent. But if Mourinho wanted to use him, he would have used him when Kane and Son were injured.

“If he cannot get a game when there is no strikers fit he was certainly not going to get any minutes when everybody is fit.”

He concluded: “He needs to get out on loan for a full season to a very good Championship side who play a good style of football. He needs to find out more about himself.”

As it stands, it is difficult to disagree with Whelan on this one, as Mourinho has been unwilling to use Parrott so far, even though he was Spurs’ only recognised striker during Harry Kane’s lengthy absence.

Despite the fact the 18-year-old signed a new contract with the Lilywhites, he has only played five minutes of league football this season (Transfermarkt).

A loan away from White Hart Lane would is surely the best thing for Parrott at this stage of his career.

The Irishman has scored plenty of goals at youth level, including six strikes in four UEFA Youth League games (Transfermarkt), and it is fair to say he is ready for the next challenge.

Evidently, a loan move would benefit all parties involved, as it is unlikely Mourinho will give him a chance anytime soon. He needs to be playing regularly in order to test himself, which is something the Portuguese cannot guarantee.

There is no doubt he would gain vital experience if he moves to a Championship club, which could give Spurs an added bonus, as he would return ready to challenge for a place in the first team.

Spurs fans, do you think that Troy Parrott needs to go out on loan? Let us know below…

Tottenham fans were left concerned with Harry Kane after his performance in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Friday.

Kane, who was making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury against Southampton on New Year’s Day, which forced him to miss almost three months of action, looked out of sorts against the Red Devils – with his 36 touches the fewest of any outfield player that played the full 90 minutes.

The England skipper understandably looked short of fitness given so long without competitive football and could only muster up one registered shot during the match, and that was a disappointing strike from a long-range free-kick that was easily blocked.

Kane has been Tottenham’s talisman for a number of seasons now and despite missing a large chunk of the campaign, is still the club’s top goalscorer with 17 goals, but will have to improve dramatically if he wants to add to that tally against West Ham on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old remains highly popular amongst the Spurs faithful, but they were far from happy with his showing against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

Many took to Twitter to express their frustration towards Kane and you can see the best below…

And even this Man United fan wasn’t impressed with Kane’s performance…