Football
Scotland fans given advice over what to do with Ben Doak after Liverpool youngster enjoys stunning full debut
![Scotland fans given advice over what to do with Ben Doak after Liverpool youngster enjoys stunning full debut Scotland fans given advice over what to do with Ben Doak after Liverpool youngster enjoys stunning full debut](https://cdn1.rousingthekop.com/uploads/4/2024/10/GettyImages-2178111701-scaled.jpg)
Liverpool youngster Ben Doak finally made his full debut for Scotland as they lost 2-1 to Croatia in the Nations League.
Doak has impressed at Middlesbrough this season, having joined the Championship club on loan from Liverpool.
The exciting Anfield winger has now taken his form onto the international stage, recently making his first start for his country.
Doak played 77 minutes in the away defeat on Saturday, having been ruled out of Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad due to injury.
But he has now seemingly put his lengthy injury nightmare behind him, with Steve Clarke liking what he has seen from Doak so far.
Scotland fans given advice about Liverpool star Ben Doak
There has, however, been a warning issued by BBC Sport journalist Tom English since the 18-year-old’s first Scotland start.
Speaking on Monday’s Scottish football podcast, English said: “I thought he contributed well. He’s a boy with a load of confidence and a load of ability, load of pace, very encouraged and excited by him.
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“I think some of the analysis has been way over the top. I think we need to judge Ben Doak on the player that he is, not the player that we’re desperate for him to become. Let’s be fair on this kid, he’s a teenager, so let’s not try and pretend that he is the second coming.
“He is a very promising player, that’s all he is. And I think some of the analysis that I’ve heard and read, for me it doesn’t ring true with what I saw from Doak.
“I think we need to be honest about this. Just because we’re desperate for Ben Doak to become the game changer in this Scotland team, doesn’t mean he is right now.”
Ben Doak has every chance of becoming Liverpool star
Doak looked likely of being an able deputy for Mohamed Salah last season, but a knee injury brought an abrupt end to his promising season.
With 10 senior appearances to his name overall, Arne Slot made the decision to send the winger out on loan in order to get regular playing time in the Championship.
And that is certainly proving to be a wise decision, with Doak having had a near-impossible chance of minutes at Liverpool this season.
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The arrival of fellow winger Federico Chiesa ensured that, but there is every chance the young Scotsman can play at Anfield next season if he continues on his current trajectory.
There could, of course, be a huge gap needing to be filled should Mohamed Salah depart Merseyside next summer.
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