Report: £15m Tottenham player is working 'incredibly hard' in training, he looks fitter than ever before now

By Ben Evans

Tottenham Hotspur defender Matt Doherty is working ‘incredibly hard’ in training, and is looking fitter than ever before.

That’s according to a Football London journalist Alasdair Gold, reporting after Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Everton.

Doherty started his second Premier League match on the bounce, after struggling for minutes at the start of the season.

The Irish international was Antonio Conte’s first choice wing-back towards the end of last season.

However, Doherty picked up a serious injury that prematurely ended his campaign.

Conte gave Emerson Royal the opportunity to make the right wing-back spot his own at the start of the season.

His red card in the north London derby against Arsenal has presented Doherty with his spot in the team once again.

The visibly fitter Doherty has taken his chance well, and as Gold suggests his hard work in training with certainly be helping.

Doherty working incredibly hard in training

The £15m signing from Wolves is the perfect wing-back for a Conte system.

Adventurous going forward and solid defensively, Doherty now has the chance to make that spot in the side his own.

Conte thought it was Doherty’s best performance of the season, saying he was ‘really happy’ with the 30-year-old.

Harry Kane was also impressed with Doherty, and singled him out for praise after the match.

Doherty’s hard work in training and improved fitness are key to succeeding in Conte’s system.

The Italian is incredibly demanding of his wing-backs, and expects them to be focal points in attacking build-up play.

Doherty has proved in the past he’s capable of this at Wolves, regularly providing goals and assists.

His four assists in less than 1,000 minutes of league football last season show he’s capable of doing it at Spurs.

It may be the turn of Royal to patiently wait to play again if Doherty keeps putting in strong performances.

Gold said about the wing-back: “Doherty has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes.

“The 30-year-old looks fitter and leaner than ever before – compare the now prominent cheek bones with photos from across his career when he was already Premier League fit but not Conte fit – and this performance was the reward for his efforts.”