Although he is still waiting for a first Championship start under Cesar Peixoto, Tommy Doyle admits he is loving life back at Wolves heading into a busy few weeks of matches.
The midfielder has been hard at work back at Compton Park with the remainder of the Wolves squad who haven't gone away with their national teams for the extended September/October break, as they prepare for a run of eight matches in 28 days starting with next weekend's trip to Middlesbrough.
Despite not being a regular presence from the off of games during Wolves' positive start to the campaign, Doyle is now well versed in second tier football and understands the importance of having strong competition in every position who are capable of stepping up when needed if they are to challenge for promotion this season.
On importance of being versatile
"I actually had a conversation with the boss about that the other day and he basically told me to make sure I learn all three midfield positions.
"Predominantly, I’ve been playing as the right number eight and then as a number 10 out of possession, a lot higher up the pitch. Then during games I can drop into the left eight or play as one of two holding midfielders in possession. I can play as the single pivot as well, but that’s not a problem for me because I learned that growing up.
"It’s important to have all those strings to your bow. It helps you get minutes and it helps you play so I’m ready to start whenever I’m needed.
"But even if I’m not starting, I’m now in a mindset where it isn’t about being disappointed, it’s how can I get onto the pitch and help my teammates, help the club and help the manager get three points. That’s the most important thing."
On working with the head coach
"It's been really good. The boss has played the game himself and I think that really helps us, especially with the players we have. He understands it and gives us freedom on the ball, so nobody is afraid to give the ball away or try a pass, as long as we’re working hard and running for each other. He really instils that into us.
"As a team, we have to be the hardest-working team possible. We have to run all over teams and with the squad we’ve got, the final 10, 15 or 20 minutes can be where games are won and we have the fitness and a lot of good players who can come off the bench and affect games.
"He’s been really good. Off the pitch as well, every day is a good day and there aren’t many days when it’s quiet or everybody is down. Even after a bad result, it’s straight onto the next one, so everybody is happy and smiling, and that’s how you perform at your best."
On being part of a strong Championship squad
"I’m now one of the players in this squad with the most Championship appearances and I understand what this league is about. It’s 46 games and although you might not start initially, there’ll be opportunities when you get a run in the team.
"The teams with the best squads tend to do best in this league and you can see how strong our bench has been. Look at the last couple of games and the players we were able to bring on. It’s really impressive.
"That’s how we can push on and really affect teams later in games when they begin to tire. You might have Raul [Jimenez] coming off the bench, JJ [Jordan James] or any number of players – you could name the whole team – but you need a good squad and we have that."
On the positive mentality in the group
"The most important thing for me is winning. We have to win. That’s the main thing. If I score, I score, if somebody else scores, it’s no problem for me. If Jose Sa scores, I don’t care! We’re all in this together. It’s a collective group and everybody has to be ready.
"If a chance falls to somebody, they have to be in the right mindset, whether they’ve started the game or come off the bench. We’re in a really good position at the moment because everybody wants to play, but there’s no frustration or anger from the players who aren’t starting that affects the team, and that’s important.
"The boys on the bench have to keep pushing the starters and the starters have to keep pushing too. As long as we’re all pushing each other, that’s how you become successful."
On his relationship with Trippier and Armstrong
"Those boys are great. They’ve played a lot of matches and have a lot of experience. That helps the team and helps the other players, and it probably helps the staff too. If there’s anything they want to ask about English football or the league, they can speak to those types of players because they’ve been doing it for a long time.
"With Tripps, you’re talking about somebody who’s had an incredible career and is still going and Arma has been prolific in the Championship for a long, long time, and those types of lads are so important.
"The foreign boys get on really well with us English boys too - we have a laugh, we help each other and there’s good banter, and when you’ve got that feeling within a squad, you can be dangerous. If you get things right on the pitch, it can really click and we can have an amazing season."
