Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott admits he's unsure where he'll be playing his club football next season but for the time being is fully focused on the upcoming international window, as Stephen Kenny's side face into a crucial away Euro 2024 qualifier against Greece.
Parrott's loan spell at Preston drew to a close at the end of the season, the Dubliner scoring four goals in 31 appearances in a campaign hampered by an injury incurred in the course of celebrating his first Championship goal for the club against Norwich City in October.
He returned in early spring but featured fitfully after that, scoring two more league goals before his loan stint ended. He returned to parent club Tottenham in the off-season, though he has yet to get a sense of his standing under incoming manager Ange Postecoglou.
"I'm just waiting to see what happens," Parrott told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue.
"Obviously, when I left to come here [Ireland camp] there was still no manager. There's a new manager now. So, I'll go back in pre-season and try and show him what I can do. And then go from there. As of now, I'm not sure what the situation is.
"I wouldn't say it's frustrating. I'd say that's just football. There's not much I can do about it. I can just go with it and try and do what I can. Ultimately, I want to play at Tottenham. I've always said that, that's where I want to be. Whatever steps I can take to get me there, I'm willing to take."
While Parrott was included in Ireland's squad for the March international window, the striker admits he still wasn't sharp enough to included for consideration against France.
"It's just the way the cards fell. I did well to make it back for the camp. I had a long injury and I was just at a stage where I wouldn't have been ready to play in that calibre of game.
"I've come a long way since then and I can't wait for the game coming up."
Parrott has four international goals in 18 appearances since making his debut in late 2019, the highlights being a late winner at home to Lithaunia in a March 2022 friendly and his headed effort in the 3-0 win over Scotland in June 2022, the latter being the finest result of the Stephen Kenny reign.
Latterly, Parrott's former status as the great white hope of the Irish attack has been hogged by Evan Ferguson, who enjoyed a sensational breakthrough at Brighton in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Spurs striker refrains from offering Ferguson much advice - he doesn't feel qualified - though he is excited by the breadth of the attacking options that Ireland now have, and is revelling in the competition for places.
"I'm not too much older than him so I don't think I can give him too much advice! I'd say just keep doing what he's doing. Because he's smashing it right now!
"It's nice to see someone else coming through. We've got five strikers in the squad that are really good. We're all fighting with each other to play. We all want to play.
"We all have a really good relationship. It can only benefit us all and help us bring the best out of each other. It's on us to score the goals to win the games. That's what we need to do.
"Everyone saw the performance we put in against France at home. It's about just taking that and bringing that into the two games that are coming up first. We're fully focused on Greece and coming here to win."
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