Nuno’s appointment offers new lease on life for Tottenham right back
By Gary Pearson
The appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo provides Matthew Doherty with a new lease on life at Tottenham, with the right back poised to stake his claim on the starting team.
Doherty, who Tottenham signed from Wolves prior to the start of last season, endured a frustrating campaign in north London. Only cracking the starting team 13 times, Doherty struggled to find the consistently excellent form he maintained while playing under Nuno at Wolves.
Doherty made 17 Premier League appearances in a campaign that never really saw him get out of first gear. An injury that kept him out of the team for over a month toward the tail end of the season didn’t help Doherty in his plight to get back on track.
His performance level paled in comparison to the exceedingly high mark he set at Wolves under Nuno during the 2019-2020 campaign. Doherty made 36 appearances, 32 of which as a starter, during his last season at Wolves. The exceptional nature of his performances convinced Tottenham to make a move for the 29-year-old.
Doherty exceeded expectations at Wolves as part of a five-man midfield, in a more advanced wing back role. Nuno prefers to employ a back three which allowed Doherty to push further up the field in a quintessential modern wing back role. Doherty, for the most part at Spurs, played right back as part of a conventional back four.