Mick McCarthy would like Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly to follow in the footsteps of Damien Duff and Robbie Keane as they come into the senior squad together for the first time.

McCarthy was speaking ahead of the friendly match against New Zealand and the crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark at the Aviva.

"It would be lovely, wouldn't it? To think that they have come through the system and come through together," McCarthy said of the pair.

"I think you'll probably find that they haven't played that much together themselves anyway - at this level or at any level. Certainly not with the under-21s that I have watched. Aaron was out on the left, Troy was a number ten.

"But it would be nice if they come through. There was a period in my first tenure in the job when I got Robbie [Keane], Duffer, Ian Harte and big Richard Dunne - a big clatter of players that came through and did well together."

Troy Parrott to find his own way

McCarthy is delighted to welcome the pair after their under-21 performances, and one of the players in the squad commented at Connolly bringing an air of youthful enthusiasm to the setup.

"It's always a big thing, to be called up into the first team squad.

"But when he trained, I would agree with the player that you spoke to, he trained as if he should be there. He was comfortable in himself and comfortable in there with the players.

Mick also seems to believe that Parrott has to find his own way in the squad, rather than looking to those that have been in the situation more recently.

"I don't think that you can follow anybody else - you are in your own shoes when you turn up.

"It is different personalities, I guess. Aaron seemed to warm to it and if Troy is in the final squad then we'll see if he warms to it just the same."

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