Josh Doherty relishing FA Cup clash with Stuart Dallas’ Leeds

The 24-year-old defender played in the dramatic opening round 6-5 victory over Torquay but was absent for a 2-1 triumph against AFC Wimbledon in November and the following eight league games.

Doherty, who has made over 100 appearances for Crawley in all competitions since joining the club in 2017, has been back in training for a couple of weeks and is available for selection this weekend.

“I had to have an injection in the back of my knee so I was out for a few weeks and then it was about getting the fitness back up and working hard,” he said.

“I’m available but the squad has been doing really well and have went seven unbeaten in the league home and away.

“We have a really big squad so there’s a real competition for places.”

Leeds have received huge praise for their attacking brand of football this season in England’s top-flight with the 17 league matches they’ve been involved in producing 63 goals.

It is undoubtedly a big moment for Crawley hosting a Premier League team at The People’s Pension Stadium and Doherty looks at it as a major opportunity.

“It’s massive,” he added.

“We went on a good cup run in the Carabao Cup last season but didn’t do too well in the FA Cup.

“It’s a massive thing for the club getting a Premier League team.

“They play a really good attacking style of football and hopefully when they attack on Sunday we will be able to counter them.

“They have a lot of good players and their manager has them going well. It’s going to be very tough for us.”

If selected, it’s likely Doherty won’t be the only Northern Irishman on the pitch with international star Stuart Dallas a consistent performer for Leeds across various positions.

Dallas has played in every league game this season, scoring three goals and helping Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who currently sit 12th in the table, amass 23 points.

“I’ve had a few messages about him saying that I could be coming up against a Northern Ireland legend,” said Doherty.

“You never know what side their manager will pick but hopefully he does play the strongest players and it would be good to see him playing on Sunday.”

Doherty progressed through the youth system at Watford and signed his first professional contract 11 days after making a Championship debut against Huddersfield Town in May 2014.

That would be his only league appearance for the Hornets before leaving the club in 2016 for Leyton Orient and a loan spell in National League North with Altrincham.

His time at Orient came to an end after six months and that’s when he returned home to play for Ards in the NIFL Premiership – an opportunity which turned out to be a springboard back into the professional game, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.

“I didn’t have a club at the time and I got a call off what was the vice-chairman then but he’s the chairman now,” he added.

“He rang and said to come home and get some games under my belt and get fit and then see where I end up.

“I know I didn’t do amazing when I came back home but it was about the fitness and gaining experience playing in men’s football which worked well for me.

“I was expecting it to be hard physically but I really enjoyed it. It did feel like a blow at the time and that my dreams in England were over.

“I would say that I got lucky after Ards getting a move back to England.

“My U23 manager at Watford was Harry Kewell and Warren Feeney was his assistant at Crawley so he got on the phone and asked me if I wanted to come down and train for a while.

“I was up in Manchester and he said to come down for a trial and from there I signed a contract.”

Doherty, who has represented Northern Ireland up to U21 level, still keeps up-to-date with everything going on at home and looks out for those he played alongside in his youth days, such as Glentoran duo Robbie McDaid and Dale Gorman.

He is one of only a few Northern Irish youngsters that currently ply their trade in the fourth tier of English football, alongside the likes of Walsall midfielder Rory Holden.

“I know I felt like it was over when I went to Ards but I kept my head down, kept working hard and hoped that something would come about and that’s what happened,” he added.

“The league is competitive enough and some people don’t see the point in coming over to England unless it’s a really big move which you can’t turn down.”

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