‘MATT WILL REDISCOVER HIS FORM’

STEPHEN KENNY has defended Matt Doherty by insisting he will get back to form with a run of club games.

The Tottenham wing-back blew hot and cold in Saturday’s defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park.

But his attempt to close down Ryan Christie’s cross for Jack Hendry’s equalising goal was particularly feeble.

Back in April, the 30-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury and while he got back on track in preseason he was still a peripheral figure.

Doherty has so far been unable to force his way back into Antonio Conte’s team and has played just seven minutes of first-team club football this season.

As a result, Doherty (below) appeared to be flagging at times.

“I thought he performed very well overall,” said Kenny. “Sometimes that is Matt’s style. He can look tired and then get a second wind.

“But he hasn’t played games this season at all. It was a decision I made to play him and I thought he played very well.”

Fade

Captain Seamus Coleman replaced Doherty late on and Kenny added: “We tried to freshen it up and make sure he didn’t fade in those last 15 minutes and that was the intention.” Coleman and Shane Duffy were both dropped by Kenny owing to their lack of game time at Everton and Fulham respectively.

Coleman has made just one League Cup appearance for the Toffees while Duffy has three brief appearances for the Cottagers since joining on loan from Brighton. But Kenny hailed the experienced duo for taking their omission on the chin.

“All the players, regardless of who was left out, got behind the team, particularly the experienced players,” he said.