Mourinho having doubts about Matt Doherty, but he hasn’t played in his best position

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Tottenham Hotspur finally decided to add a new right back over the summer, but the move hasn’t exactly gone as they would have hoped.

Spurs allowed Kieran Trippier to leave for Atletico Madrid in 2019, but failed to replace him in a quite bizarre decision by Mauricio Pochettino and co.

Jose Mourinho then decided that Kyle Walker-Peters wasn’t going to cut it, so sent him to Southampton as part of the Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg deal, following a successful loan.

Spurs ended up bringing in Matt Doherty, securing him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth just £13.4million.

On the face of it, this looked like a great deal. Doherty had thrived in two Premier League season at Wolves, bagging eight goals and 11 assists at Molineux.

Having also won more aerial duels than any other full back in the Premier League last season, Doherty seemed to be ideal for Mourinho – a manager who praised him as ‘aggressive’ last term.

Sadly, the 29-year-old has failed to hit top form at Spurs. He has started just nine Premier League games this season, and his future is already in doubt.

ESPN report that Mourinho already has doubts over Doherty, and his time at Tottenham may only last one year unless he turns improved performances.

One thing that should be said in Doherty’s defence is that he hasn’t yet played in his natural position for Spurs, as he has been asked to play as a right back in a flat back four.

That has never been Doherty’s best position, even struggling there on the international stage with the Republic of Ireland.

Doherty needs to be used as a right wing back to really get the best out of him. That’s what Wolves did; amplifying his attacking ability whilst reducing the defensive work he needs to do behind him.

Spurs don’t play with wing backs, so expecting Doherty to go in and be an ideal fit at right back may have been a little foolish.

Until Doherty is allowed to play in his preferred role, Spurs may never see the best of the Irishman – and it would almost be a shame to see him moved on without seeing him in his most natural position.