Antonio Conte believes Matt Doherty is an example to all of his other Tottenham players. 

The Republic of Ireland wing-back has transformed from potential January transfer makeweight to star performer in a rejuvenated Spurs side.

Doherty's struggles in North London were well documented, and he found himself on the periphery of the team following Conte's arrival in November.

It was January before the 30-year old started a Premier League game under his new boss, but since then has become a regular starter providing two goals and four assists as Spurs rose to top-4 contention.

"Matthew is the typical player that is showing good improvement," Conte said ahead of this weekend's game with Aston Villa.

"If you remember very well, at the start he didn't play a lot with me because at that moment I think he didn't deserve to play. But then he worked really hard.

"He's a really good guy. In every training session, you see the desire, the will to improve himself, the tactical and technical aspect. He's got a great mentality. He's strong.

"Many times when players don't play a lot, they go down mentally. But he's shown me to be strong, to stay there. He showed me, 'I can do what you want, I am going to improve and when I am ready I want to play'.

"He showed me not with talking but with his attitude and his behaviour and for this reason he is playing, he is deserving to play and he is playing very well.

"He has great confidence and I am very happy for him, because this is a big example for the other players. I want to win and I don't care if I play one player or another player, I decide the player when I see that this player gives me great attitude."