MICHAEL Doughty believes he has produced the best football of his career since Richie Wellens’ appointment as Swindon Town manager.

Doughty has been one of the standout performers for Town throughout the campaign following his arrival on a free transfer last summer, and is the club’s top scorer with 12 goals in 26 appearances this term.

The midfielder has hit a particularly hot streak in 2019, notching five times in six games since the turn of the year.

Recent matches have seen Wellens – who was appointed as Town boss back in November – deploy Doughty slightly further up the pitch in a number 10 role between deep-lying midfielders and the strikeforce.

That has given the 26-year-old a crucial role in dictating Swindon’s attacking play, one in which he has thrived so far.

Doughty, who has played a handful of games in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers in his career, believes it is at Town that he is starting to reach his full potential.

When asked if Wellens is getting some of his very best performances out of him, Doughty said: “I definitely feel so.

“You have seen in my performances since he has arrived, I certainly feel they have improved.

“Throughout the course of a season, you are never going to be brilliant every week. I think the manager has an expectation of me and I am going to try my best to reach that.

“Irrespective of the level, I firmly feel I could be playing higher and could be producing the same performances playing higher.

“That’s the confidence that I have and I will just see where it takes me.

“I love playing and I have a really good relationship with the club here and the fans.

“In my ideal world, we go up this year and we are all enjoying playing at a higher level.”

Doughty spent the first six years of his career at Loftus Road, but struggled to truly establish himself with Rangers and spent seven loan stints away from the club – including two at Town.

He made a permanent switch to Peterborough United in 2017, but saw his contract terminated by mutual consent after just one season.

Town were quick to snap up his services and Doughty believes going through tough periods has inspired him to hit the heights he now is.

“Regarding QPR and Peterborough, sometimes you have to go through difficult spells in your career to start playing your best football. I am hoping I am showing that right now,” said Doughty.

“Steve Evans (Peterborough manager) has had an incredibly successful career to date, his methods work for him.

“For me – irrespective of what the media might say – it was a mutual decision to leave. I didn’t feel I played my best football there and didn’t feel I was going to be able to. That’s a style difference rather than a personal difference.

“Richie has just left an illustrious playing career behind and I think understands – certainly in my position – what I need to improve on and get better at, and I am looking forward to working with him.”