Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has raved about 17-year-old attacker Ben Doak following his impressive start to life with the Reds.
Taking to his pre-match press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup clash against Manchester City on Thursday, the Dutchman spoke about the youngster who only arrived on Merseyside this summer.
“Yesterday I walked off the pitch, we trained. The session was insane, it was really cool, and I walked off the pitch with Jurgen [Klopp],” Lijnders said.
“He says to me: ‘Wow! Stefan [Bajcetic] and Bobby Clarke – they place so mature. They play as if they’re 25.’
“And Ben Doak. Can you imagine if he was a signing? If you do this, what he’s doing in the session, because you’ll see he’s very quick. If you’re very quick and technical, that makes a really dangerous player.
“He learns as well really quick. It’s really nice to see because sometimes you can be really quick, really good with your feet, but if you don’t learn teamwork – as I just said, you need good players – but a collective in the end makes you successful.
“But he adapts really quickly to our style. We are just really happy with three young signings…
“We want to give these boys chances.
“Ben is just, I like that combination of speed, mentality and technique – and he has all three.”
Lijnders raves about Doak
The youngster has burst onto the scene since arriving at Kirkby over the summer. Having joined from Celtic, Doak made his first-team debut against the Rams as a 16-year-old. Shortly after, just a day after his birthday, he kept his place on the bench to face Southampton in the Premier League.
Although he has made just 15 appearances for various Liverpool youth sides, the teenager has clearly impressed Klopp and his coaching staff.
The 17-year-old joined the first-team squad out in Dubai for the Reds’ warm-weather training camp.
Earning cameos during their two friendlies, Doak is expected to receive more chances with the seniors over the remainder of the season.
Whenever he has been given the opportunity, the Scotman has shown he is fearless. Despite his age, he is willing to take it to the opposition defence, with the confidence to run at the full-back.
Therefore, with such huge potential, the youngster will be sure to see more chances over course of the next year. Subsequently, he will then be ready for a loan outside of the Premier League.
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