Noel Whelan has suggested Tottenham Hotspur should send Troy Parrott on loan next season, in an exclusive with Football Insider.

The former Leeds United forward feels Parrott is currently being wasted at Spurs as he has sat on the sidelines for the majority of the season so far.

Appearing on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, Charlton assistant manager Johnnie Jackson recently revealed the Addicks were keen to sign the youngster on loan back in January, and added he will not be short of suitors as the transfer window approaches.

The 18-year-old has made just four appearances for Jose Mourinho's side, averaging merely five minutes per game in the Premier League up until now.

Whelan has urged the Lilywhites to sort out a loan for the Irishman if they cannot guarantee him substantial game time, as the club are in danger of hindering his development as a player on-and-off the pitch.

Speaking to assistant editor Russell Edge, the pundit insisted "he hasn’t been given a chance and he needs football, he needs to go out there on loan, he needs to be playing at a very good, decent standard and learning about himself and his game.

"He needs a full season at a club. If he’s not going to be playing at Tottenham, he needs a full season to bed himself in, have a pre-season with them and know where he’s going to be for the duration of that campaign.

"He’s got an amazing bit of talent, not just for Tottenham’s benefit but for the national side as well. They’re going to want somebody that’s going to be filling in to that position, someone that’s going to be playing regular football to get the best out of him.

"If he’s not going to be used by Jose Mourinho then he’s got to be put out on loan, given that chance to progress in his future and in his game and make him a man, because right now that’s the only way he’s going to find out about himself as a person and as a player.

"By going through these ecstatic times when he’s had a great game and scored a goal but also find out about his character where he’s had a bad game, missed some chances and lost – how can he bounce back? It’s all part of a process to become the complete player."

As it stands, it is hard to argue with Whelan here, as on the face of it sending Parrott out on loan would surely benefit Spurs in the future.

The teenager has trained regularly with the first team, meaning he has missed out on valuable minutes with the U23 squad as a result. However, he has still managed to score 6 goals and create 1 assist in only 4 games in the UEFA Youth League at the time of writing.

Reports suggest the Tottenham hierarchy expects big things from the Irish international in the years ahead, but he needs to be playing more consistently if he is to achieve his full potential. A spell at a lower league club could give him the experience he needs to come back and challenge for a spot in the senior squad.

Tottenham fans, do you think that Troy Parrott needs to go out on loan? Let us know below…