Liverpool and Scotland fans have been told that the most exciting thing about Ben Doak is just how good he could be in a few years’ time.
Doak lit up the Nations League during the November international break, playing key roles in Scotland’s wins over Croatia and Poland as Steve Clarke’s men picked up the wins they needed to avoid automatic relegation.
The 19-year-old has featured in every game for Scotland since making his international debut at the beginning of September and is reaping the rewards from his decision to leave the Reds on loan over the summer.
Doak has also been in fine form for Middlesbrough, heightening excitement among Liverpool supporters ahead of his return to Anfield next year.
It’s very early days for Doak but there have even been suggestions that he could be the Reds’ long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah.
One might have expected former Scotland manager Craig Levein to have played down the hype surrounding Doak to try and ease the pressure on him, but it sounds as though he is just as excited as the rest of us. My feeling is, just give him the ball,” Levein told BBC Scotland of Doak. “Against Croatia at Hampden, when he got the ball, the whole thing just lifted up a level. The noise from the crowd was fantastic.
“You have to go back a long way to find somebody who’s as exciting as this lad is. He’s got searing pace and there’s something really intoxicating about that. That idea of just taking people on and crossing the ball, or cutting inside to shoot or setting stuff up for other people, it’s great to watch.
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“He went past [Croatia defender] Josko Gvardiol like he was a two-bob defender. He’s a little bit special. He’s also got that lack of fear that young players bring and it becomes infectious when you see him enjoying himself.”
Levein added that he can’t wait to see how good of a player Doak develops into in a few years’ time. He added: “You have to be able to learn very quickly, when you’re at a club that size, how to behave and to prepare yourself for high expectations. The fact he went to Liverpool, I think, is a big thing. He’s managed to get himself in the first team on occasions, now he’s at Middlesbrough which is a good choice. He needs regular football.
“Fingers crossed, everything continues in the way it’s going for him at the moment because he’s a top-class prospect – and the excitement for me always comes knowing that eight years from now, he’s going to be much better than he is now.”
