Alasdair Gold has told his YouTube channel that Matt Doherty is not as “sharp” as Antonio Conte would like him to be at Tottenham, with the right-back still said to be feeling pain in his knee after an injury towards the end of last season.
Emerson Royal has started all three Premier League games so far. Doherty, 30, has been an unused substitute against Wolves and Chelsea, making a late substitute appearance for Spurs during the 4-1 win against Southampton.
Since joining Tottenham from Wolves in 2020, £15m Doherty has only managed 56 appearances for Spurs. Indeed, he has failed to hit the heights that saw him shine at Wolves, other than a brief period in the second half of 2021-22.
Unfortunately, that is when the 29-time Ireland international picked up the knee injury. While he took part during pre-season, Gold says he still felt pain in his knee. He says Conte wants him sharper than he currently is in training at Spurs.
“Conte likes his defensive solidity. I don’t think he thinks Doherty is as sharp as he wants him. The way he was talking about him in pre-season suggests he would’ve been first choice, if he was sharp. Still feeling knee injury in pre-season.”
Gold: Doherty not as sharp as Conte wants him at Tottenham
It is a real shame for Doherty that the injury came when it did. He was flying at one point, even scoring and creating. It is clear that at his best, Conte thinks he is Tottenham’s best. But with Djed Spence now in, his game time could reduce.
Can he get back to that level he was showing towards the back end of last season, before his injury? Well, he needs regular game time. But it is a catch 22, it might take him 10 games back to that level. Can Spurs give him that time?
Probably not. Nottingham Forest on Sunday could be an opportunity, or the third round of the Carabao Cup which will come in September. But realistically, he needs Emerson to pick up an injury in order to get a proper chance.
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