Troy Parrott and Ipswich can offer one another a much needed boost

It's not been the easiest 14 months for Tottenham striker Troy Parrott since Jose Mourinho's arrival in north London.

The highly-rated teenager - capped at international level by the Republic of Ireland before he'd made his Premier League debut - was restricted to just six minutes of top flight football by the Portuguese boss during the 2019/20 season, despite the long-term injuries suffered by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

Mourinho frequently complained about his lack of strikers - while simultaneously refusing to play striker Parrott because he deemed the youngster 'not ready'.

The 19-year-old was shipped out on loan to Millwall ahead of the 2020/21 season. It appeared the perfect opportunity for Parrott to get some first team football under his belt and prove a point to Mourinho - but his time with the Lions was heavily disrupted by an ankle injury. He was restricted to just seven starts, failed to find the net and has since been sent out on loan to League One Ipswich.

After a frustrating year, Parrott is in desperate need of a boost.

After a frustrating two decades, so are Ipswich.

On the face of it, Parrott has joined one of the third tier's biggest clubs, who should be in the thick of a promotion push.

However, Ipswich are a club being allowed to slowly wilt in mediocrity after years of mismanagement, under-investment and a lack of ambition. The majority of fans dislike both owner Marcus Evans and manager Paul Lambert, the club have an uncanny knack of sustaining a multitude of inexplainable long-term injuries and the performances of late have made Mick McCarthy's brand of football look like tiki-taka.

Welcome to Suffolk, Tom.

Life at Portman Road will be a real learning curve and baptism of fire for Parrott. With Lambert determinedly sticking to a 4-3-3 formation this season, the youngster will be expected to lead the line on his own.

The Tractor Boys are crying out for goals, having found the net just 27 times in 23 games this season. Only five teams in League One have scored fewer. Renowned as a natural finisher, signing Parrott seems the natural fix for a lack of goals.

Unfortunately, Ipswich don't actually create a lot of chances. Finishing has rarely been the issue for the Tractor Boys this season, rather carving out opportunities in the first place - they have not had more than three shots on target in a single game since November.

But it's not all bleak.

Firstly, Ipswich do have a cracking away kit.

Secondly, alongside Parrott, Ipswich also brought Luke Matheson in on loan from Wolves. The energetic full-back is already proven as an excellent asset at League One level following his time at Rochdale and should add some much needed attacking zest down the right flank.

Teenagers Parrott and Matheson join a side whose spine already largely consists of exciting young talent. Centre back Luke Woolfenden and midfielders Teddy Bishop, Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes - the latter a summer target of Crystal Palace - have often been rare bright sparks for the Tractor Boys over the last two years. Depending on your outlook, it's either a side brimming with potential, or a whole host of players who won't be around next season if Ipswich can't find their way out of the third tier.

Both Ipswich and Parrott could do with a lift. The move could offer this to both parties.