Stephen Kelly thinks Mick McCarthy has been too quick to write off Matt Doherty as an international winger.
The Wolves wing-back was arguably Ireland’s best player in the Premier League last season - and yet he cannot get into the national team.
“It’s crazy,” said former Irish international Kelly.
In the opening Euro 2020 qualifier in Gibraltar, Doherty played on the wing in front of regular right-back and skipper Seamus Coleman.
But McCarthy - who signed Doherty for Wolves - whipped him off and deemed it a failed experiment that he won’t be repeating.
Yet Kelly, 35, who played at right-back and left-back for Ireland, feels the manager is being too hasty.
“After that game, Mick was saying the points were done and that he’s not really judging anything from the game (because it was played in dreadful conditions).
“But he judged Matt. The only person who came out of it judged was Matt Doherty, even though the game wasn't judged. It didn't make sense.
“It's bizarre that our best player in the Premier League last season doesn't have a starting place in the Irish team - it's crazy.
“It's such a hard position for Mick to be in, but Mick sees him as a right sided player. At some point I think he’ll play on the wing.
“The way I see it progressing over the next few seasons is Matt pushing for the right-back slot, rather than playing in front of Seamus."
Everton this week signed Monaco right-back Djibril Sidibé on a season long loan but Kelly insists it would be foolish to write off Coleman.
And he expects the Ireland captain to rise to the challenge this season.
“Seamus is a fighter,” said the former Tottenham, Birmingham and Fulham defender. “Last season he probably got a lot of criticism early on and was in and out of the team.
“But towards the end he got strong again and built himself back up and got himself in positions to be a starter.
“They have competition for places and Seamus knows that but he’s so tenacious in everything he does, he's not going to give that up lightly.”
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