Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills believes Matt Doherty has been ‘bizarrely’ frozen out at Tottenham by Nuno Espirito Santo.
The Republic of Ireland international joined the club last season but has failed to cement a regular starting spot in the Spurs lineup.
Things have only got more challenging for Doherty this season, who seems to have slipped down the pecking order as the third choice right-back behind Japhet Tanganga and summer signing Emerson Royal.
Doherty has only played seven minutes of Premier League football so far this campaign, with his only starts coming in Spurs’ Europa Conference League qualifiers against Pacos de Ferreira.
Spurs coach Nuno enjoyed a successful relationship with the Irishman during their time together at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but that hasn’t translated in North London thus far.
Former England international Mills admitted he is not sure why Doherty’s status at Spurs has dropped and has found the decision to be ‘a little bit odd’.
Asked who would be the third choice right-back, he told Football Insider: “It doesn’t look like Doherty is in favour too much, bizarrely. That’s a real strange one.
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“I think that’s a little bit odd given that obviously, Nuno knows him. He played his best football under Nuno at Wolves.
“It looks like he will be that one that misses out. I thought it was absolutely vital that Tottenham brought in two defenders over the summer. That’s really, really important.
“Tottenham have actually had a decent window.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It hasn’t happened for Doherty so far at Tottenham and with so much competition at right-back still, it’s looking more and more challenging for him to cement a place in the team. Doherty was such a threat at Wolves, but the system that Nuno is deploying here is so much different.
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