MATT SMARTS AT IRISH SNUB

MATT DOHERTY has hit out at his lack of game-time with Ireland, saying: “My face doesn’t fit.”

The Wolves defender has been a consistent member of the squads selected by Martin O’neill (above) without getting a start.

Incredibly, as he has not played in a competitive match he can still qualify for Holland as his mum, Joni, is Dutch.

He says that he would not go away from the country of his birth but is clearly frustrated.

Asked if he was happy with the way his international career was progressing, he said: “No, of course not.

“I’ve been around the squads since 2016 but I’ve only picked up three caps. They’re all coming off the bench for a few minutes towards the end. I’d like to have a lot more caps and a few more starts.

“Sometimes your face doesn’t fit and mine doesn’t at the moment. I’ll just have to see what happens.”

Doherty is vying for a spot in O’neill’s side with skipper Seamus Coleman.

Ambitious

The former Aston Villa and Sunderland chief also has Fulham’s Cyrus Christie to call upon as well.

The Wolves man added: “I’m ambitious and I’m backing myself to play.

“And yes, there are three of us going for one position. Seamus is the captain, so he’s going to play.

“But he wasn’t fit the other day so I would have liked to have played from the start. It didn’t happen, and that’s the manager’s choice.”

Asked if there was any personal issue – O’neill reportedly criticised him for wearing gloves during training – Doherty admitted that his Ireland boss had mentioned it in passing.

He said: “Yes, he has mentioned the gloves. I wear them in training because it’s cold.

“When I first went out he had a joke about them – nothing too serious – but I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him. Stuff like that has nothing to do with what happens on the pitch.

“I know he has said he would like me to attack more. Maybe I’ll do that.

“But when I first turned up it was my defending that was the problem. Now it’s my attacking.”