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Tottenham Hotspur: Dinnery reveals why Doherty has struggled to get back into first team

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Image for Tottenham Hotspur: Dinnery reveals why Doherty has struggled to get back into first team

According to injury specialist Ben Dinnery, Tottenham Hotspur’s right wing-back, Matt Doherty has struggled to get back into the starting side due to a lack of sharpness from his knee injury last season. 

While Spurs have started the season well, currently sitting third in the table with an unbeaten record through their first seven games of the Premier League season, one issue they have faced is the quality at the right wing-back position.

So far this season they have relied on Emerson Royal, who has not impressed and even moved Ivan Perisic out of his position to fill the role during their recent 6-2 destruction of Leicester City.

They still have Doherty in the squad who showed himself to be a vital part of Conte’s system last year fail to get a start so far this season. While it may seem odd to fans why this has happened, Dinnery revealed it is down to his knee injury from last season.

Dinnery said on the Premier FPL Injuries show: “Lots of questions with regards to the availability of Matt Doherty. He is fit and ready to play. However, he has been struggling to find that little bit of form, that little bit of sharpness, since that knee injury curtailed his campaign last season. So that was the reason as to why he didn’t get the nod at the weekend.”

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TIF Thoughts on Doherty…

Despite moving Perisic out of position and signing young Middlesborough starlet Djed Spence, the right wing-back position has continued to be a sticking point for the club and is a huge problem when playing in Conte’s system which relies heavily on the wing-backs.

While the club may want to dip back into the transfer market to solve the issue, the answer already lies in the squad with Doherty. The Irish international found it difficult to pick up games last season but when he did he managed to outplay Royal with his two goals and four assists in just 15 games.

They have Spence for the future, but Royal has proven not to be good enough going forward and Doherty is trusted more by the manager. Spurs are playing well but if they want to take the title challenge to Manchester City they need Doherty at the right wing-back spot.

Should Conte start Doherty when ready?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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