Matt Doherty was left behind on the team bus by Jose Mourinho

A year ago the wing-back’s Tottenham career looked in trouble, but now he is fast becoming one of Antonio Conte’s reliables

Tottenham Hotspur's Matt Doherty gets away from West Ham United's Arthur Masuaku during the Premier League match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday March 20, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Tottenham. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

Matt Doherty does not hesitate when asked to recall the time things sunk to their lowest. It was March 2021: Spurs were travelling to Aston Villa on the back of a defeat to Arsenal and a humiliation for the ages at Dinamo Zagreb.

Although he was not involved in the latter, Doherty knew he had not performed well at the Emirates, but it still came as a surprise to find himself José Mourinho’s fall guy next time out. He was in the 21-strong travelling party but the ignominy hit hardest when, with the youngsters Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett named as substitutes, he was forced to stay in the car park.