Scotland ready to unleash wonderkid Ben Doak in upcoming Nations League matches

JOHN CARVER believes dropping down a level can help superkid Ben Doak soar to the very top.

The on-loan Liverpool winger scored on his debut for Middlesbrough, and has already proved himself a key man for Michael Carrick’s side.

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The Boro boss is keeping manager Steve Clarke updated on Doak’s progress, and the teenager could get his first Scotland start this weekend.

Clarke’s No 2 Carver said: “The likes of Ben will get better playing against better players. It’s great news that he’s gone to Middlesbrough on loan, and that he’s getting a regular game there.

“It’s also just down the road from me, so it makes it easier to go and watch him!

“But Ben’s getting the chance to play against better players now — it’s called accelerated learning, and you develop quicker and better.

“I know Steve’s had a chat with Michael Carrick and the staff down there and they love him, both him and Tommy Conway, who’s unfortunately injured at the moment.

“The fact that these two guys are young players who can play in the Under-21 group, but are going to get first-team football at Middlesbrough, will certainly benefit us.

“I’m not picking the team, and we’re not saying that Ben’s going to start the game in Croatia.

“But he’ll be involved at some stage, I’m sure of that.

“I’ve seen Ben play for the Under-21s as an out-and-out striker, and that could be an option for us, for sure.

“But we do see him as a wide player, because when he gets in that one-v-one situation, he can turn somebody inside out because he’s so quick.

“When a young player goes into a Premier League club, and he’s training with top-quality players, he gets better.

“So every individual that’s coming in now, because we’re playing against Pot A sides all the time, these players will improve and get better.

“Because if they don’t, they obviously fall by the wayside.”

Carver revealed Clarke resisted the temptation to promote the likes of Connor Barron and Lennon Miller from the Under-21s because Scot Gemmill’s side have good qualification prospects.

If they can remain second following their final two fixtures — against Belgium at Tynecastle on Friday and away to Kazakhstan four days later — they will be guaranteed at least a Euros play-off place.

Carver added: “We had one eye on the Under-21s.

“There might have been one or two other guys we could have brought in that we had in the camp last time, like Connor Barron.

“But we know they have a couple of important games and it’s key for their development if our Under-21s can qualify.

“If they did that, going to a major tournament with the Under-21s will be exceptional for them experience-wise.

“It might really help us in the long run.

“So, we took all that into consideration when we were picking the group.”

The beneficiaries of that were Aberdeen defenders Nicky Devlin and Jack MacKenzie, who both received their first international call-ups.

And Carver said: “It’s great because they are playing for a team in Scotland, and I really like that.

“They have had a great start to the season, so the two full-backs deserve to be in our squad.

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“It’s a chance for them, and they need to step up. They will find it difficult because it’s a good group of players, but it’s up to them.

“It’s important that people out there — young players who are playing in Scotland — actually realise we’re watching them, and they might just get an opportunity.

“Because it’s not just about them going down to England and playing, or going over to Italy and playing.

“It’s about local guys getting their opportunity.

“And these guys just aren’t getting their opportunity because they are local guys, it’s because they are good enough to be in the group.

“That’s important. And it’s vital we go and watch them.

“I went to Pittodrie last weekend and it’s a long way to go — especially from Newcastle!

“But it was worthwhile, because we had so many players on show, which was really good.

“Regarding Jack, with Greg Taylor pulling out, I was going up to see Aberdeen anyway and we’ve had a lot of good reports about him. They have had a fantastic start, and are playing with real confidence.

“And I just like the way he plays — he’s a front foot player, he likes to get high, he gets into the final third, he delivers the ball, all of which is the way we want to play. Jack’s not overawed, he came into the group, he joined in training on Tuesday and he’s been great.

“So I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops.”

Although Preston defender Liam Lindsay has been called into the squad, Rangers’ stopper John Souttar could start at the back in Zagreb.

Souttar, 28, has missed many Scotland games through injury, but this could finally be the central defender’s chance to really establish himself in the side.

Carver added: “You can see it in their eyes.

“We’ve got a number of centre-backs out at the moment, and you can see there’s a little glint in John’s eye because he thinks, ‘I’ve got an opportunity now’.

“When I first came here, I remember he was in the squad and he did exceptionally well, and he really wants to get back to that standard again.

“John’s playing well for Rangers, which is great.

“The guys that are in can see where it could lead.

“If it was me, I would want to stay in this group, I would want to be part of a national team aiming for the World Cup.”

Meanwhile, Hearts ace Lawrence Shankland could pull out of the squad with a hamstring issue, with Aberdeen hitman Kevin Nisbet in line to replace him.

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