Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has hailed Troy Parrott after the Tottenham youngster made his international debut.
Parrott, 17, has already made his Spurs bow this season - starting the the Carabao Cup defeat to Colchester United - before being named in the Premier League squad at Everton earlier in November.
The youngster revealed this week that he has been learning from Spurs legend Robbie Keane , who was also handed his Ireland debut by McCarthy.
Parrott - who score three times in his three Under-21 games before making the step up - could not mark his first outing with a goal, but his manager was full of praise.
"He can handle himself at this level, I don't doubt that," McCarthy said. "He was tracking back and he tackled their centre-half and he got all upset [Reid].
"I know he's been out, so you don't want him to get injured - but well done, that's what it's about.
"Welcome to men's football, because then he was getting a little bit bullied by him. But he stood up to it, and he's done fine."
Having made his first steps for club and country this season, Parrot is already looking to go as far as he can.
"Of course I have been satisfied with the strides I've been making as I've made my debut for Tottenham and I've come in here and made my debut for Ireland," said Parrott.
"But I'm just going to try to keep on doing what I can do, working hard and trying to learn from people, and hopefully I can go far in the game."
