“All I really wanted to do today was just give him a hug and say ‘no matter what son we’re all proud of you\u2019,” Troy Parrott’s mother has said ahead of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Czechia.<\/p>\n
The Ireland forward scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Portugal and then scored a hat-trick to help Ireland overcome Hungary in a 2-3 victory in Budapest last year.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Prague ahead tonight’s match, Jennifer Parrott said her son “needed this chance”.<\/p>\n
“He got the chance and he proved to everyone how good he is and how good he can be,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I always knew that he\u2019d do very well,” she said, adding “I’m very proud”.<\/p>\n
Ms Parrott said her son “doesn\u2019t feel the pressure”.<\/p>\n
“But I know there\u2019s a lot of pressure on him,” she added.<\/p>\n
To Troy, she said: “No matter what I’m proud of you, to where you got today.”<\/p>\n
Watch: Troy Parrott’s grandmother sends emotional message as kick-off approaches<\/p>\n
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Troy’s grandmother, Josie, said she was “over the moon”.<\/p>\n
“I love you Troy,” she said, adding that “we’re still proud of you”.<\/p>\n
“Just do what you do.”<\/p>\n
Speaking to RT\u00c9 Radio 1’s Liveline programme, his sister, Emmie, said she felt “more nervous for him” as “there is a lot of pressure on him”.<\/p>\n
“I have a knot in my stomach,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Even the team, not only Troy, I just hope they all do really well,” she added.<\/p>\n
She said she and her brother were “really close growing up”.<\/p>\n
“We still are, so to me it’s like, if anything goes wrong, it’s on all of us as well, we all [family] feel it for him,” Emmie added.<\/p>\n
Also speaking on the programme, Troy’s girlfriend Lauren said he “is more ready than he will ever be”.<\/p>\n
“He is doing so well, scoring, and that has built him up even more for tonight,” she added.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/p>\n
Follow live developments as kick-off approaches<\/a><\/p>\n Czechia v Republic of Ireland: All you need to know<\/a><\/p>\n Preview: Ireland’s belief brewing but proof will be in Prague pudding<\/a><\/p>\n