Scotland U21 head coach Scott Gemmill has hailed the potential of 16-year-old Liverpool player Ben Doak.
Doak burst onto the U21 scene with a debut goal against Northern Ireland on Thursday. And speaking via The National, Gemmill has said that the Liverpool youngster is ‘really exciting.’
“I’ve seen Ben play so I wasn’t surprised at what he can do,” said the former Everton midfielder. “He’s really exciting. I wasn’t surprised, but it is always good to see it happen. There were good things and there were things that we know we need to correct. So there was a bit of everything.”
Doak has been making a name for himself in Liverpool’s U18 side this season. After another eye-catching display, it may not be long until we see him rise up the age groups.
Doak showing brilliant signs of progress
It was already a pretty big achievement for Doak to get a call-up in the first place. To top that off with a debut goal is the stuff of dreams for the teenager.
He had already been making waves at U17 level, scoring four goals in six games, but this was a new level entirely.
Playing so far ahead of their age group is a great sign for any young player. It isn’t by any means an indication of future success, but it’s a clue that they’re becoming ready to play men’s football.
Of course, Doak has already done that. In January he made his debut in the Scottish Premiership with Celtic, barely two months after his sixteenth birthday.
Wisely, the Reds chose to keep him more-or-less in his age range after he signed for them this summer. There may have been a temptation to throw him in above his peers, but it’s good to get a grounding within the club.
If targets are met, Doak can then be moved up when appropriate.
Two games in three games at U18 level shows that he’s already on his way to doing that. If improvement keeps being shown, you’d expect the youngster to be with the U23s before too long.
It’s important to keep feet on the ground with any young talent. But in Doak’s case, Liverpool really do look to have a player on their hands. Keep it up, Ben!
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