Wolves star Matt Doherty says he is still not yet fully fit after battling a knee injury throughout the summer.
The Irishman was superb in the club’s first season back in the Premier League last term, making 45 appearances across the board having also starred in the Championship-winning campaign of 2017-18.
Doherty was eased back into action this term, with Nuno Espirito Santo using Adama Traore as a right-wing back in his stead but the pair have teamed up well in recent weeks.
The Dubliner excelled in the 2-0 win over Watford, started the 1-0 victory away at Besiktas and did what was required when coming on as a sub in the surprise 2-0 success at Manchester City.
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After playing for the Republic of Ireland in the 0-0 draw against Georgia, he sat out Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in Switzerland as an unused sub.
He will hope to have more involvement on Saturday when Wolves host Southampton in the Premier League.
A victory over the Saints could move Nuno’s men to up to seventh. Wolves are then in Europa League action a week on Thursday when Slovan Bratislava are the hosts in Group K.
While he has been performing week, the 27-year-old insists he has room for improvement with him still not 100 percent.
Surgery was mentioned by the boss back in September but with him seemingly coming out on the right side of his injury woe, Doherty is keen to kick on to bigger and better things this term.
“Sometimes now, I still feel it,” the club’s longest-serving player is quoted as saying by the Express & Star. “It’s probably 90 per cent. It doesn’t feel the same as my left one, but I can play on it.”
He added: “In another couple of weeks, it should be back to where I was. I came back too soon and when you keep irritating it, it just takes a lot longer. That’s been pretty much the case.”
