Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alan Hutton has urged Matt Doherty to leave the club in order to find regular playing time.
Speaking to Football Insider, the former Tottenham Hotspur man stated that if Conte does not play him more regularly, the right-back may have to consider his “options.”
Conte has started Emerson Royal ahead of Doherty and Spence this season, and despite the Irishman’s return from injury, Conte does not appear to trust him with the position. Last week, when asked why Doherty does not start, Conte stated that it is because he ‘doesn’t want to lose.‘
Doherty started his first league game this season after Emerson was sent off against Arsenal playing the entire 90-minute game against Brighton this weekend.
It does not, however, guarantee that he will be given more playing time. If his situation does not improve, Hutton believes the 30-year-old should consider his options. He stated:
“I think everybody has to look at their options…. I think Doherty is at an age now where he wants to play regularly. He doesn’t want to sit on the bench and look in.”
“Two years, he has got a little bit of security there but he wants to play football after a long layoff. So he might have to look at his options moving forward if this continues.”
The Irishman is 30 years old, and these are most likely his final few seasons as a player before physically declining, and if he wants to make the most of these years, he may have to find a new club.