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'The guy is playing at a phenomenally high level' | Delaney praises Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty's rise over the past few years has been magnificent, and the Dubliner is playing at ...



'The guy is playing at a pheno...
Soccer

'The guy is playing at a phenomenally high level' | Delaney praises Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty's rise over the past few years has been magnificent, and the Dubliner is playing at a higher level than any other Irish player at the moment, according to Damien Delaney.

Delaney and Daniel McDonnell joined Off The Ball on Saturday to discuss the Irish players who have shone in the Premier League this season.

Both men felt that Doherty has been one of the standout Irish players in English football for over a year now.

"He's been absolutely brilliant, the guys playing on another level to every other Irish player in the league," Delaney said.

Doherty has four league goals this season and has also chipped in with two goals for Wolves in Europe.

"He plays every week, he's durable and his importance to that Wolves team can't be understated."

McDonnell made the point that this has been a particularly good season for Irish players in the Premier League. Twenty-one Irish players have featured in England's top-flight over the course of the current campaign.

The Irish contingent of John Egan, Enda Stephens and David McGoldrick have all impressed at Sheffield United, however, Doherty's performances for Wolves in Europe have set him apart.

"For a really good team, he has still come in with a quota of goals and assists and really impacted on games," said McDonnell.

Despite Doherty's stellar performances at club level, there is still some debate over whether he will start ahead of Irish captain Seamus Coleman when Ireland play against Slovakia in October.

As a former centre-half, that played for Ireland himself, Delaney understands the value that progressing through the various leagues can have on one's career.

It is why he has also been impressed with Egan, who began his career with Gillingham in League One.

It has provided Egan with a body of work to fall back on, according to Delaney, and served the defender well in making the transition to the Premier League.

Egan has been commended for his brilliant efforts for Sheffield United, particularly since the Premier League returned after the coronavirus lockdown.

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FAI Irish Football John Egan Matt Doherty Premier League Sheffield United Wolves