---
title: "Wolves: Fans question persistent selection of Matt Doherty"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-fans-question-persistent-selection-of-matt-doherty/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2019-08-28T14:05:57Z"
modified: "2019-08-28T14:05:57Z"
---

# Wolves: Fans question persistent selection of Matt Doherty

**Wolves defender Matt Doherty has admitted that he has yet to rediscover full fitness after a knee injury curtailed his pre-season involvement.**

In an interview with the [Express & Star](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/08/27/wolves-matt-doherty-not-100-per-cent-yet/), the 27-year-old said: “I don’t feel 100 per cent yet to be honest. I missed all of pre-season pretty much and have come straight back into games.”

Tim Spiers, the [reporter to whom Doherty spoke](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/08/27/wolves-matt-doherty-not-100-per-cent-yet/), posted a link to the interview on his Twitter account [@tim\_spiers\_Star](https://twitter.com/tim_spiers_Star/status/1166247688213540865).

> A fitness update from Matt Doherty, who is still playing catch-up after being injured in pre-season [#wwfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/wwfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/d9Ns4OZObG](https://t.co/d9Ns4OZObG)
>
> — Tim Spiers (@TimSpiers) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/TimSpiers/status/1166247688213540865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The [Express & Star](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/08/27/wolves-matt-doherty-not-100-per-cent-yet/) said that Doherty missed the bulk of Wolves’ pre-season programme with knee trouble that delayed his return to action until August 8th, when he played ([and scored](https://www.skysports.com/football/pyunik-yerevan-vs-wolves/419519)) against FC Pyunik in a Europa League qualifier.

Despite that injury layoff, the [Republic of Ireland right-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/profil/spieler/171679) has [started all of Wolves’ three Premier League games so far this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/leistungsdaten/spieler/171679) against Leicester, Manchester United and Burnley.

He [played the full game against the Foxes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/leistungsdaten/spieler/171679) but was taken off at half-time in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United after struggling with injury and illness, as reported by the [Daily Express](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1168671/Wolves-team-news-predicted-line-up-Torino-Matt-Doherty-injury-doubt-Man-Utd-Europa-League). He then [featured for 76 minutes against Burnley](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-doherty/leistungsdaten/spieler/171679) last Sunday.

These Wolves fans on Twitter feel that Doherty is not at his best and questioned why Nuno Espirito Santo has consistently named him in the starting XI:

https://twitter.com/Headless1970/status/1166312982311329793

> Is it fitness or just having an awful spell. Looks lost, can't attack or defend at the moment , is it just confidence , it looks more than fitness to me ,
>
> — Brian Hand (@stookiebri) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/stookiebri/status/1166249390635474944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> then why is he playing tim? i’m not a football manager but surely you should play your fit players??
>
> — joey (@xGJHP) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/xGJHP/status/1166248076459294722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Barely crossed the half way line Sunday. Was glaringly obvious he wasn’t fit. Traore atm is a better option
>
> — Kaiju JIMENEZ (@AstleySam) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/AstleySam/status/1166251158928859136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> It was a good chance to give him a few more days to recover by playing Traore against Burnley. He doesn’t look himself yet
>
> — Dr Paul Mansell (@PaulMansell10) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/PaulMansell10/status/1166255360849657856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Then why did he start!? Traoré has more than proved himself in pre-season and the Europa League. If he can't play, don't play him! Based on his last two performances, I wouldn't even have him on the bench against Torino and Everton.
>
> — Finn Benton (@SomeBritishDud1) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/SomeBritishDud1/status/1166313160816648193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Why is he not being brought on at 60 mins like any other player does when returning from injury, starting with him not being 100% isn’t the answer for me when we are already chasing games before a substitute is used as his replacement. Surely start your strongest 11
>
> — Thomas Mason (@wolvesladtom) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/wolvesladtom/status/1166248602949378048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Just doesn’t make sense to play him – when Adama on fire and his confidence must be on the rise . I’m sure Burnley dressing room got a boost when heard he was only on the bench .
>
> — William Ambrose (@SirBillyWright) [August 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/SirBillyWright/status/1166281747249737728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)