Rampaging Wing-Back Nears Milestone

Matt Doherty is on the brink of a significant breakthrough in his flourishing Wolverhampton Wanderers career.

The Dubliner, whose form in his more attacking role under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo continues to amaze, has played 241 times for the club and is therefore not close to an obvious major landmark.

But, with his next first-team game, presumably at Chelsea on Sunday, he will become one of the top 50 appearance makers in Wolves’ 142-year history.

Doherty is currently level with 1950s star Eddie Clamp, a solitary outing behind Noel George and Terry Wharton, who are joint 48th with 242 appearances to their credit.

The Legends area of this site is where you will see the easiest-to-follow list ever published on the most-seen players in Wolves history – just click on the icon at the top of this page.

Our roster shows that there have been several introductions to the club’s top 50 in relatively recent times.

Highest in the pecking order of the players who have appeared in League fixtures for the club in the 21st century is Lee Naylor, whose 334 games leave him joint 27th with Hall of Fame member Jackery Jones.

Among his pursuers until early in the Nuno era was David Edwards, whose tally of Wolves outings closed on 306 (good enough for 33rd spot). In the Welsh international’s slipstream lie Karl Henry (40th place with 272) and Richard Stearman (43rd with 254).

Among those just outside the leading half century are Stephen Ward, Jody Craddock, Neil Emblen and Joleon Lescott.

A look at the players on the upper side of the line shows that Doherty can expect to make further rapid strides up our Legends list if he maintains form and fitness.

He has figured in 35 Wolves games in all competitions this season and, by playing in ten more between now and the summer, including the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, he would not only pass the 250-match mark for the club, but move up to 44th spot.

That would mean him leapfrogging a cluster of men including Wharton, Steve Daley and Paul Bradshaw, having started 2018-19 well outside the leading 70.

Please may we remind you that the figure in brackets after Doherty’s appearance tally in our Legends area refers to the fact he was the 943rd man ever to play League football for Wolves.

If you wish to remind yourself as to who the 1,000th man was, please go into our Afobe to Zyro area.