Spurs ace named in UEFA’s Europa League Team of the Week – it’s not Bale or Lloris

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Tottenham Hotspur right-back Matt Doherty has been named in UEFA’s Europa League Team of the Week.

The Irishman was named in the starting XI by Jose Mourinho for Thursday night’s last-32 first leg against Austria’s Wolfsberger.

Doherty was an unused substitute against Manchester City, Mourinho preferring Japhet Tanganga on the right side of defence.

The 29-year-old took his chance well, feeding Gareth Bale for both Son Heung-min’s 13th-minute opener and the Welshman’s goal just before the half-hour mark.

He looked a constant threat going forward and Mourinho will have been happy with his display.

UEFA thought Doherty was the best right-back of the round and as such named him in their Team of the Week – the only Spurs player to make the cut.

While Gareth Bale put in a great display and Hugo Lloris was also impressive in goal, neither made the team amid strong competition in those positions.

Molde’s Andreas Linde is in goal, while Doherty is joined in defence by Manchester United’s Eric Bailly, Shakhtar’s Mykola Matviyenko and Rangers’ Borna Barisic.

Red Devils duo Daniel James and Bruno FernandesChristoph Baumgartner of Hoffenheim and Getafe’s Kenedy are in midfield.

Finally, the attack is comprised of Dinamo Zagreb’s Bruno Petkovic and Hoffenheim’s Munas Dabbur.

The team is made up of the highest-scoring players this week in UEFA’s Performance Zone rankings.

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Doherty may have had his struggles this season, but he was impressive against Wolfsberger and his performance will have given Mourinho plenty of food for thought.

Spurs are next in action on Sunday at midday, away at West Ham, and while the quick turnaround means Mourinho could well rest Doherty, it’s still good that he did so well on Thursday.