Matt Doherty played a key role in Wolves battling their way out of relegation trouble last season, with Vitor Pereira turning to experience to maintain their Premier League status.
The Ireland international is currently in Portugal with the Wolves squad for pre-season training, in a 28-man squad with a number of youngsters battling their way into consideration for the campaign.
Matt Doherty has spent the majority of his career at Wolves, and it is no surprise he has become one of the leaders in the squad, with Toti Gomes confirming this in an interview.
Wolves and Vitor Pereira will be looking to build on their campaign at the end of last season, as if their form continues, they could feasibly challenge for European qualification.
Matt Doherty says Vitor Pereira has trusted him like no manager has before
The Ireland international has taken more responsibility since Pereira came in as manager of Wolves.
Doherty believes the positional change from wing back to playing in the centre of defence has benefited both him and Wolves.
The 33-year-old has spoken to the Express and Star while in Portugal on pre-season with Wolves about the decision to switch him and Nelson Semedo’s position.
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He said: “I think everybody will know me as a wing-back, just because of everything that I’ve managed to do in that position before.
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“But I always wanted to finish in that centre-back position.
“I was a centre-back growing up and then just got shifted to right-back because I had a bit of an attacking mentality, so centre-back was always in my plan and in my head anyway; it was just actually getting a manager to see it in me and do it.
“It’s just worked out now, and it’s something that I’m grateful the manager had the vision to see straight away.
“Straight away he swapped me and Nelson, and I haven’t been on the wing since, so he obviously saw something in me, and it’s worked out.”
Matt Doherty’s 2024/25 season
Doherty made 35 appearances in the Premier League last season, with five of these coming from the bench.
He was known for contributing to the attack regularly with Wolves; however, this changed last season as he moved to centre back, as he scored only two goals and provided one assist.
Matt Doherty’s 24/25 Premier League season
Appearances 35
Goals 2
Asissts 1
Fouls 18
Yellow Cards 6
Red Cards 0
Tackles 38
Interceptions 22
Blocks 15
*According to Premier League website
To this point in his Premier League career, Doherty has made 179 appearances in the division, with Doherty scoring 14 goals and providing 15 assists.
Doherty impressed last season, and his stats demonstrate that, as he is incredibly comfortable at the heart of the defence.