McDonald's kid has extra relish

Steve Stammers13 April 2012

With his vivid orange shirt and matching tie, it was hard to miss Scott Parker as he made his way home after Charlton's excellent win over Arsenal on New Year's Day.

And it was just as difficult not to take note of the contribution he had made to that victory.

In only his second Premiership start, Parker did not look out of place against Arsenal's midfield of Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour and Robert Pires.

Now he should retain his place for Saturday's potential banana skin against Essex non-Leaguers Dagenham and Redbridge in the third round of the FA Cup.

And it's as if Parker is making up for lost time. As a 14-year-old boy he featured in McDonald's advertisements, playing keepyuppy. His skills were sublime and he was the youngster everyone wanted.

Clubs queued to secure his talents, but he did not make the quick impact some predicted for him.

During Charlton's one-year sojourn in the Premiership two years ago, Parker warmed the bench four times without starting a game.

Last season's appearances were equally sporadic and there seemed every chance that he would join the long list of teenage superstars who never really made it.

Redemption came from an unlikely source. Norwich City, struggling in the First Division, needed urgent reinforcements and Parker was dispatched to Norfolk for what he now calls invaluable first-team experience.

He tasted regular first-team football and liked it. As manager Alan Curbishley says, he came back one angry young man determined to prove that he was worth his chance at Charlton.

When his loan spell was up, opportunity knocked - twice.

First, Mark Kinsella, Charlton's highly-influential captain was injured. Then, the team took a savage 5-0 mauling at West Ham on Boxing Day and Curbishley brought in Parker and Paul Konchesky. Charlton won 4-1 at Manchester City and two days later, beat Arsenal.

Parker said: "The Norwich experience, that was great for me. I came back angry. By that I mean I came back more determined than ever to do well. Look, I have been here four years as a professional and I am now 20.

"I wasn't pushing on as well as I had hoped. I made my first team debut at 16 and maybe I was expecting more, but I wasn't achieving what I was expecting. I wasn't too happy. I needed to get out and play.

"That's why it was good at Norwich. I had never played in front of 15,000 people. It had been a long time since I woke up on a Saturday morning and knew I was playing at 3 o'clock. It made me value what professional football is all about, what sort of things go on around the professional game. I found out how serious and tense it is, how important it is to get three points on a Saturday.

"I came back and I realised I had to change something in my game. I had been playing the same way for three years and I was not getting anywhere.

"It toughened me up, no question. I got my foot in and I came back, to be fair, as a different player. I am really happy and I am flying in training. People might think it was all great to have that kind of publicity I had at such an early age, but you know you must maintain it.

"At such a young age people were saying this and that about me. It was good, but it had its down side. Football is such a hard environment. It is so tough, it really is. I just hope I can stay mentally strong and keep playing the way I have been in the last two matches.

"At Norwich, I learned so much. We went through a stage when there were five games without a win. That was hard, I promise you. I had never been in a situation like that where I was going out on a Saturday and the pressure was immense. The crowd were on your back and you have just got to rise to it and take it on your shoulders. But I don't feel I will be someone who will be thinking about what could have been. I never doubted my ability. I just wanted the chance to go out on a Saturday and prove I could do it. If I wasn't good enough, I would hold my hands up, but I just wanted the chance to show what I could do.

"So far, it has gone well. I have had two starts in the Premiership and I feel that I have done all right.

"I want to be the one who steps out there on a Saturday. I want to be the one who pits my wits against Vieira. I want to play against the best."

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