What Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has said about reported Sheffield Wednesday target Troy Parrott

The highly-rated forward, who has been prolific in under-23 football and was handed his international debut in November, is the subject of a specialist training programme at Spurs.

But he is understood to be keen on a taste of first team football and with Mourinho having indicated opportunities may be limited despite a long-term injury to Harry Kane, a handful of clubs are circling.

Asked about Parrott’s development last week the Portuguese compared their approach to that of Japhet Tanganga, who has emerged in the Spurs first team in recent weeks. Tanganga has never been sent out on loan.

Mourinho said: “I'm ready to answer you because I had a long conversation with him today, so I’m ready to share with you a little bit.

“I think he has potential. I think he needs to work a lot. He has a process to go through, a process that probably Tanganga had. One is 17 and another is 20. We are speaking about three years of distance.

“Okay, in Tanganga's case it was three years without a Premier League match, but it was three years of working and playing: playing in his age groups, playing in England national teams, which also gave him some experience. Then with me, it was just the last part of his preparation before he had his opportunity.

“I think Troy has to go through a process. Can he have minutes? Yes, he can have minutes. I’m not saying he’s not able to have minutes. But to put on his shoulders the responsibility of replacing somebody that needs to be replaced, I don’t think he’s ready at all.

“That is the only thing I can say. If he has to play with us, he will. He will do his best, he will show his good qualities, he will show his frailties because at this moment he is a 17-year-old kid with frailties in his game.”