Ben Doak admits Scotland Euro 2024 injury heartbreak turned him into ‘wee guy’ again

Doak – who progressed through the Celtic academy before joining Liverpool – was robbed of the opportunity by injury and instead of relishing the experience had to endure a summer of what-ifs.

“It was weird actually because I hadn’t played from December until May and I’d only just started training that week,” said Doak of his call-up before being forced to withdraw. “I got the call up and I’m buzzing, I’m going to go away, I’m going to be training, I might make my debut at the Euros. 

“I came back maybe a tad too early, but I was training shortly after so I was able to just put it out of my mind and get on to the next thing because all I could think about was getting picked again, even for anything.”

Even though his own international aspirations had been ripped away, temporarily, Doak was glued to the television backing his Scotland team-mates alongside his friends and family – albeit tinged by disappointment.

“It was tough to watch just because, even seeing the lads coming off the bench, I was like, that could be me coming on,” said the on-loan Middlesbrough winger. “It was obviously tough to watch, but I was desperate for the lads to do well. 

“I was watching it with my mum and my family in the house. I went out to watch the Hungary game with my mates and that ended up being a bit of a tough night. I think we all went home early.

“To be honest, when I was watching it with all my mates and that, I just forgot that I was even picked for it in the first place. I just turned into that wee guy again that was watching Scotland when I was younger.”

For the Tartan Army, there was no question Doak would have a future in the Scotland set-up given the abundance of talent he has shown in limited appearances at club level.

However, Doak has insisted that was little consolation as he vowed he would never be complacent over his precious place in the national team.

He said: “I can’t just go, I’ll get picked again, it’s fine. I can’t take that for granted.

“All I could think about was, I can set goals for myself. 

“I knew there was another one last month, another international break. So I just thought, well, if I can get training and get playing again, I’m in with a good chance.”

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Doak’s career to date has been a fascinating one. From rising to the first-team at Lennoxtown, a switch to Anfield as little more than a boy and then to the crushing experience of missing out at the Euros.

It has been a rapid rise with a steep learning curve but switched-on Doak is relishing every second – and so are his family while they smile through tears of joy.

“I was buzzing,” he said of making his international debut against Poland last month. “My mum and dad were at the game. I think my mum started crying.

“I didn’t expect to be here at 18. Even getting picked for the 26-man squad in the Euros. Now it just feels normal. I’m on to the next thing, on to the next thing, on to the next thing. 

“I feel like I’ve always went through things in football dead quick. It’s always just the next thing and the next thing and the next thing. 

“Because if you spend too long dwelling on the good things that you’ve done, you’re just going to ruin the things that are going to come. So it’s always just been the next thing, the next thing. And it’s just normal to me.”

Not overawed by his surroundings facing up against world-class footballers for club or country, Doak admitted his achievements sometimes only come to the fore when mentioned by those around him.

“Not at the time,” he said when asked whether he still experiences pinch-yourself moments. “I think it’s when you see pictures and that. 

“To be honest, it’s not even me. It’s my family going, like, you’ve just played against whoever, and I’m just like, yeah.”

That composed, unflinching attitude has served Doak well to this point and the winger still holds close advice from Jurgen Klopp to keep enjoying his football and not allow pressure or circumstance to creep into his thinking.

Asked about the best advice from the former Anfield manager, he said: “When I’m on the pitch, just go and have fun. 

“Just go and enjoy yourself. I feel like that’s the easiest thing, the easiest way to play well. You can’t be thinking, oh, it’s this game, there’s a big crowd. 

“If you go out and you just have fun, you’ll naturally play well anyway.”

John Carver suggested earlier this week that Doak being involved in upcoming matches against Croatia and Portugal is all but certain – but the teenager has eyes for more than just boosting his cap tally.

“The next one [Scotland dream], anyway, is just to score and win that game,” he said. “I think just small targets for ourselves is the best way to do it.”

While focussing on the short-term, Doak is determined to feature for Scotland at a major tournament in the future after his Euro 2024 near-miss – and you wouldn’t bet against him succeeding.

“Yeah, of course,” he said of dreaming of playing at a major tournament finals for the national team. “I feel like, obviously, there’s plenty of tournaments coming, and it’s just up to me to be up to the level to get picked and hopefully be starting games by the time the next tournament comes round.”