Ireland suffer long-term blow as more details of Troy Parrott’s injury emerge

Parrott suffered a knee injury in training for AZ Alkmaar

Parrott, who has 10 goals in just seven games for Dutch side AZ Alkmaar this season, had already been ruled out of the first set of World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia this coming week.

And he is now set for a prolonged absence after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury, and will likely miss the October World Cup Qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia.

“Every coach would like to have the top scorer in Europe in his team,” said Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson. “When something like this happens you start to feel sorry for yourself but imagine the player himself, in such good form, I feel sorry for him.

“Luckily, we have players in his position doing really well at the moment. We can’t be thinking about players who can’t help us, we are focused on the players who are here.

“From what I hear, Troy will miss the next camp as well.”

Who are the other options for Ireland?

Celtic’s Johnny Kenny replaced Parrott in the squad, with Hallgrimsson’s mind seemingly made for him as to whether to play Parrott and Evan Ferguson together.

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Roma striker Ferguson is likely to lead the line after an impressive start to life in Serie A, picking up a man-of-the-match award and assist in his first two games.

Kenny and new Swansea City striker Adam Idah are the options off the bench. 

Ireland face Hungary at the Aviva on Saturday night, before a trip to Armenia on Tuesday.