"He's been going through it" - Rob Edwards reveals reason for Wolves defender's lack of minutes
Wolves head coach Rob Edwards has revealed Matt Doherty's lack of minutes is due to ongoing pain from an old knee injury.
The defender has only played twice so far in 2026, with 90 minutes against Shrewsbury in the FA Cup and just 45 minutes against Chelsea when he was brought off at half-time earlier this month.
Before that, he started and played the full game as Wolves earned a point at Old Trafford, in a game where Doherty played at the heart of the back three.
The Irishman, who has made just 13 appearances this season, did not play for six weeks earlier in the season after suffering a knee injury and Edwards admits he is still feeling the effects of it.
"Doherty's an interesting one, he's still been feeling a bit of pain, so he's been going through it for us as well and making sure that he's been available," Edwards said when asked about Doherty's lack of minutes.
"It's something that we're trying to manage at the moment and we're going to try and do what's right for him as well.
"Just to give him the best chance to be in the best position possible to perform for us. Massive credit to Doherty for that.
"It's the medial, when he was coming back from it, it can be difficult and you can open it up, feel it again and almost re-injure it.
"I's just been a really bitty one for him where you can go into a tackle or the ball hits your toe at the wrong angle and just open things up again.
"He's felt it a few times. He played really well when we got the draw at Old Trafford and he opened it up in that one with a really good block. There's been a few instances of it and we're just trying to manage that."
The 34-year-old is the only senior Wolves player out of contract this summer, in what is expected to be a big overhaul of the squad.
Edwards would not directly say whether Doherty would stay with the club, but he did hint at the possibility of a deal being done.
"I love Doc, for not just his football, everything else that he gives around the place as well," Edwards said when asked about the possibility of Doherty signing a new contract.
"He's got a lot of experience now. A very different man to the one when I left originally. He's had so many good experiences and he gets the game really well.
"He's a good communicator and a good leader in the dressing room. So I've got so much time for him. He's someone I do enjoy having around."
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