Matt Doherty does not agree with Mick McCarthy that he and Seamus Coleman are incompatible in the same team.
The Ireland boss has strongly indicated that Coleman will start ahead of the Wolves ace in a flat back four in Friday’s Euro 2020 clash in Denmark.
Doherty was the most consistent right wing-back in the Premier League this season but Everton right-back Coleman is the Irish skipper and won’t be moved.
The pair both started the 1-0 win away to Gibraltar in the opening game of this campaign with Doherty on the wing - but McCarthy feels the experiment failed.
Yet Doherty asked last night: “What worked that day? We believe we can play together but we have to wait and see, it might happen again and everything could work.
“It was one of those days where it didn't come off but we still did some nice things, we still linked up a few times and it wasn't a total disaster.
“I might look back and think 'was I really that bad?'. I don't think it was that bad, but I don't look back on it with that many good memories.
“I don't know how we persuade him, just keep training is the only thing you can do. We’ll see what happens but I’m not sure it’ll happen any time soon.
“The more you do it, the more you become accustomed to each other’s way of playing. That was first time we ever played.
“We believe we can work together down that side. I understand he’s going to pick one of us at right-back. Whoever plays has the full support of the other.”
Doherty was outspoken in the past in his belief that he should have more than his seven caps to date - the first of which came away to Turkey last year.
But until yesterday, he claimed to have been unaware of McCarthy’s comments last week that Coleman would start ahead of him.
“Seamus obviously plays to a high level - I play to a high level as well. It’s just one or the other. He’s got to pick one," he added.
“There’s no hard feelings at all. Whoever plays, we’ll support each other. It doesn’t really matter who plays once we win the game.”
Doherty continued: “I’ve never come here with a guarantee to play so nothing has really changed. If I do play, I’ll do the best I can and if I don’t play, I’ll support Seamus.
“Seamus and I are quite close, good friends around the camp. Whoever plays will have the backing of the other.
“I’m trying to get ahead of him, he’s trying to get ahead of me. It’s a good thing that it’s making us both want to improve and get better.”
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