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A turnaround for Wolves' Matt Doherty

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"I was in the last year of my contract and I just thought – what kind of life is this?"

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It's been a remarkable turnaround for Matt Doherty.

Last August, the Irishman began the 2015/16 campaign out of the team with his Molineux contract running down.

His future at the club was perhaps in doubt.

Fast forward nine months and the situation couldn't be more different.

Doherty is a firm fixture in Kenny Jackett's XI, has the security of a possible three more years at Molineux and even has an outside chance of playing in the European Championships this summer.

And to top it all off, he's now been voted as the club's player of the season – both by fans and his team-mates.

A gong for goal of the season – for a stunning 35-yard strike against Fulham – made it a clean sweep for the popular full-back at Wolves' end-of-season awards.

"It's probably been my best year," an understated Doherty said.

"The players' award – players see you train every day, that's a special one to win.

"And the fans who watch you week in, week out and pay good money to come and watch you, they're obviously happy with my performances in a slightly disappointing season for the team."

It's a far cry from the beginning on the season.

Doherty's determination to succeed is clear – and he has certainly taken his chance this season.

As he says, it's all fallen into place.

"I was in the last year of my contract and I just thought, 'what kind of life is this?'," Doherty said.

"You're sitting on the bench every week, you're not coming on, you're seeing all the boys do well, you don't feel part of it at all. I just thought 'I can't let this happen'.

"I'm 24 now and at 24 you have to be playing every week, and I wasn't playing every week.

"When my chance came at left-back I just thought to myself 'this is it now'.

"Once I got in I worked hard to stay in and it's all fallen into place since then."

Doherty was centre of attention at the awards in Telford on Tuesday night.

He certainly doesn't seem to mind the spotlight.

"I quite like the attention!" he added.

"I'm not going to say no to it.

"That's what we do – we play the game to win games for the team we're at, to win stuff, and if you're doing well you're going to be the centre of attention at some point.

"That's part of it. I don't mind it."

But of his team-mates eulogising him during videos played at the ceremony, Doherty added: "You almost get a bit shy and embarrassed.

"They're the boys you're with every day and you have banter, to see them talk so highly of you, is quite nice to see."

The goal award was the least surprising of the night for Doherty, whose 35-yard strike against Fulham earned 55 per cent of the vote. The next highest was Kevin McDonald against Preston on 13 per cent.

"I don't score many goals so obviously that was special for me," he said.

"It still gave me goosebumps watching it back.

"My dad came over for the game and predicted me to score as well.

"I think Bristol City away (two seasons earlier) was my last one before that, I don't score many. There's no better feeling.

"I assist more lately and I'll take that, as long as the ball goes in the back of the net."

Doherty pipped midfielder Jack Price to the fans' award.

Price tweeted to say: "Thanks to all the fans that voted for me. Well deserved winner in Matt Doherty, well done mate .

And young professional of the year Dominic Iorfa added: "Happy to have picked up an award last night. Congrats to Matt Doherty on all his awards too."

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