Seven headers won, five tackles: £65k-a-week Tottenham man sends reminder to Conte

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Matt Doherty produced a stellar performance for Ireland against Portugal on Thursday night – and the stats show the Tottenham man was at his best.

Doherty, 29, has struggled to get much game time at Tottenham this season. In his second season at Spurs, the arrival of Nuno did not help his cause.

That is, despite shining under Nuno at Wolves beforehand. He has made a substitute outing for Spurs since the arrival of Antonio Conte, at Everton.

For Ireland, it is a different story. The £65k-a-week (Spotrac) star is a regular for Stephen Kenny, if not, one of his country’s most-important players.

Ireland drew 0-0 with Portugal in Dublin. Though Ireland have no chance of 2022 World Cup qualification, they were excellent on Thursday.

Doherty was inch-perfect – and the stats prove it. WhoScored handed him a rating of 7.25, Ireland’s third best, as he wore the number 10 shirt.

Doherty stats: Tottenham star gives reminder to Conte, with Ireland

WhoScored report that Doherty won more headers than any of his Ireland teammates – by quite some distance. He clocked up seven aerial wins.

That is incredible, given Ireland also boast Shane Duffy – renowned for his headers. John Egan, too. He had more touches than his teammates, with 73.

His incredible stats do not stop there – also producing more tackles than any other player on the pitch, with five. A spectacular display from Doherty.

With Conte using wing-backs and a back three, his outing as a right-sided wing-back will have surely given his new Italian gaffer a reminder.