Ben Doak is destined to play first-team football for Liverpool and Scotland.
Doak is one of the brightest prospects in Liverpool’s ranks. Having been plucked from Celtic last summer, he’s immediately gone about making a name for himself.
There was potentially a chance that his progress at Anfield would result in a senior Scotland call-up for the 17-year-old this week. But, perhaps wisely, Doak is in with the U21s instead.
Writing for The Dundee Courier though, former Scotland international Rab Douglas says that following Elliot Anderson’s drop-out, Doak should be considered.
“It might not be the worst idea if Ben Doak now gets promoted from the under-21s to the full squad,” said the former goalkeeper.
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“Here’s a player who Jurgen Klopp is now trusting to come on for Mo Salah at Stamford Bridge for Premier League game-time. Bringing him into the group for the friendly against England feels like a smart move.
“It would reward a player who is on the fast-track to the Liverpool first team, would please the fans and would subtly show to Anderson that the talent pool is deep north of the border these days.”
Doak backed for senior action
We’re with Douglas here. Although it may be good to keep Ben’s feet on the ground in the U21s, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be with the senior side.
Maybe that sets the wrong precedent after just a handful of first team appearances for Liverpool. But it’s incredibly evident that Doak is destined to be a first-team player.
At Anfield, that’s maybe a little less sure, although he really looks like he can make it. But, with all due respect to Scotland, he already looks like he could be in their team. Get the winger in now, and he could be there for the next 15 years.
Wind him up and watch him go. Doak doesn’t care who he’s playing against, he’ll go at them hard and fast.
It’s that kind of mentality that has already seen the former Celtic youngster compared to Wayne Rooney.
As Liverpool prepare to begin their Europa League campaign this month, we’ll surely be seeing more of Doak very soon.
If he can make an impact – and he always looks like he can – it’ll be hard for Steve Clarke to leave him out of the next senior squad in October.