Matt Doherty says that he is having the best season of his career.
The Ireland international has been a key player for a Wolves side flying high in the Premier League, scoring six goals in all competitions from his right wing-back station.
"Club-wise, yeah, for sure, I'm having a pretty good season," Doherty said at a press conference ahead of Ireland's opening Euro 2020 qualifier against Gibraltar this weekend.
"The team I'm playing in is obviously having a great season also - we're in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and seventh in the league. The brand of football we're playing is quite attractive.
"For me personally, on a stats level and all that, I am having the season of my life, considering the league that we are in now.
"I just think that I'm good enough. I didn't start the season too well. I've got myself a lot fitter, which helps also. I'm even fitter than last season and I was pretty fit last season.
"Confidence is everything, I'm super confident at the moment. Every time I go out and play, I feel great when I'm playing. Obviously, I know that changes at times during the season but right now I've never played better and my confidence is sky-high."
Doherty has a previous relationship with new Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, a factor which should aid his international future considering that the 27-year-old felt that his face did not fit under McCarthy's predecessor Martin O'Neill. McCarthy signed Doherty for Wolves in 2010.
"We had a good relationship when I was at Wolves," said Doherty.
He's a very good man manager, firstly. During my time at Wolves when he was there, he nurtured me and took care of me when I was in a few sticky situations.
Him and TC [Terry Connor] do a lot of the coaching on the pitch. Already you can see in the little bits of training what he wants us to do. We haven't done huge shape sessions but even the little things, he might stop [training] and give little pointers here and there.
You can see that he wants to get involved with the banter between the lads. He's quite funny at times. None of that has changed - he hasn't lost his sense of humour. He's always looking to be involved in some way.
That's good, you need to have a manager who's friends with you in some way but at the end of the day, you respect him because he's your manager. He's got the right blend.
Doherty also said that Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo has played a "huge" part in his development as a player.
"In terms of going forward and scoring goals, it's instinct, no one can coach you where to go. There's been times this season where I've just sneaked in at the back post, that's not necessarily him telling me to do it, that's me having a gut feeling and thinking, 'Maybe something will come here.'"
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
