Michael Carrick hailed Ben Doak’s fine form as the Liverpool youngster prepares to resume the domestic season with Middlesbrough.
Doak joined Boro on a season-long loan deal over the summer and has impressed for the north east club, registering four goal involvements in 10 games, including three assists in his last two appearances.
The 19-year-old carried his fine club form onto the international stage during the November break, setting up goals against Croatia and Poland as Scotland registered the two wins it absolutely needed in order to avoid automatic relegation from Nations League A.
Doak’s form has prompted plenty of excitement among Liverpool and Scotland fans, and Carrick is unsurprisingly excited about what the teenager could do for his Middlesbrough side in the weeks and months ahead.
“It’s everything you want,” Carrick said of Doak’s rapid emergence. “In terms of the level (he’s reached), it’s very difficult to envision something happening so quickly. There’s no getting away from it, Ben’s having a really good time of it at the moment. He’s playing some good football and looking dangerous.
“The opportunity for him to come here and play and be part of the squad – he’s obviously confident. We know his strengths, it’s pretty obvious what he’s good at and he’s taken that on to Scotland as well.”
After piling praise onto the youngster, Carrick warned fans against getting carried away with Doak’s form, acknowledging that Middlesbrough has a role to play in ensuring the burden of expectation does not weigh him down as the season goes on.
“We’re really pleased with him, but for us it doesn’t change anything,” Carrick added. “It’s a long season so we’re certainly not getting carried away but it’s great to see him thriving at the moment.
“Then obviously going to Scotland and having an impact for them, it’s fantastic for Ben and great for us that he’s with us and playing so well. We have still got to be careful, he’s still young, we have got to manage him and preparing him for going though the whole season.”
