Football
Scotland: Important not to ‘overhype’ Ben Doak – Andy Robertson
“Obviously his season’s been cut short with injury and he trained with the lads today for the first time and looked as if he hadn’t been out for five months, which is credit for him.
“He brings pace, he brings excitement, he’s not scared to take anyone on. It’s exactly what we need, young players that have got no fear, and he’s certainly got that.”
Doak, who has only made 10 first-team appearances for his club, will be hoping to avoid being one of two players destined to be left out of head coach Clarke’s final squad for this summer’s tournament.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him, but it’s also important that we protect him and we put our arm round him and help him along the way, because he’s just starting his journey and we know what that’s like,” Robertson said.
“It’s important people don’t get overhyped by him and let him grow and let him improve. If we do that then I believe that he can be a big player for us in this tournament, but he’ll be a big player for us for 10, 15 years to come as well.”
Doak could make his senior international debut prior to Euro 2024, with Scotland facing Gibraltar in Portugal on Monday then hosting Finland in their final warm-up game at Hampden Park next Friday.
Clarke’s side open Euro 2024 against hosts Germany on 14 June and Robertson is hopeful that they can build on the experience of the last Euro finals by “making history” as the first Scotland side to qualify from the group stage of a major finals.
“We know what it takes to play in these tournaments and it’s up to us to try to show that,” he added. “The fact is that we’ve got plenty now who have been to one and been through it.
“Hopefully we can dip into that experience and use it to our advantage. It’s fine looking good on paper, but we have to show that quality and take it on to the pitch. We are confident we can do that.”