Matt Doherty has described his return to the Wolves starting-11 as a “new lease of life”.
The Ireland full-back has made 27 appearances in all competitions this season and has played every minute of Wolves’ last six Premier League games.
After starting their first two games of the campaign, he had to wait until December 4 against Everton before his next league start.
Yet the Swords native never lost faith - and he wasn’t afraid to knock on the door of then-manager Gary O’Neil to ask why he wasn’t playing more often.
“I didn’t think of myself as a squad player,” he said. “It may have looked like that at the time, I wasn’t getting as many minutes as I wanted.
“But the belief I had, I knew there was a possibility of a change, getting into the team.
“It’s a long season as long as you stay available, stay fit which I pride myself on doing, I knew an opportunity would come and it was up to me to take it, and I’ve managed to do that so far.”
During his spell out of the starting-11, Doherty (33) sought the advice of his manager on how he might get back into the side.
O’Neil restored him to the team shortly before his departure and the arrival of Vitor Pereira.
“I had a few (conversations) at the start of the season. I played the first couple of games and was out for a while,” he said.
“You have conversations. You wouldn't be normal if you didn't speak to the manager when you aren't playing, figuring out why and what you can do to get back into the team.
“Things have changed for the positive and I'm very happy about it.”
Doherty returned to Wolves in July 2023 after a brief and mostly frustrating time in La Liga with Atletico Madrid.
He made just two appearances in Spain after his shock January transfer window move from Tottenham.
Having previously spent 10 years at Molineux, he was delighted to return to the club in the summer of 2023.
“(It’s) a new lease of life,” he said. “I've always felt good about myself even when I wasn't playing.
“When you are playing it does change how you feel. You feel everything is a little bit better on and on the pitch when you are playing.
“As a player if you are playing every week, it doesn't get any better than that. That is the whole point in you going on that type of career path. You want to just play your games every week.
“I'm fortunate enough at the moment that the manager trusts me and believes in me and is playing me.”
Doherty was reintroduced to the side by O’Neil, but under Pereira he has found himself in a more central role, on the right of a back-three.
“Results weren't going well at club level,” he said, when asked why he suddenly found himself back in the team.
“The manager relied on me for a particular game and I played well for Gary (O'Neil) for two, maybe even three games before he got sacked.
“Vitor Pereira came in and changed my position for the first training sessions and I have not played out wide since.
“I am almost thankful for that as the position I am playing I am really enjoying it and playing well. I am getting involved in the game defensively and even in build up play.
“I always back myself to turn things around when things weren't going well and I have managed to do it again, so I am happy.”
He added: “I played centre back a lot growing up. When I went to Wolves, at the very start I fell into the right back slot.”
Would he rather see himself as a right-back for Ireland?
“I am whatever - right back, left back, right wing back, left wing back, I will be whatever. Things are going well so I am not complaining,” he said.
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