Liverpool may have found a promising addition to their attacking options in the form of Ben Doak, who showcased his potential while playing for Scotland U21s against Spain.
Scotland U21 manager Scot Gemmill expressed his excitement over Doak’s performance, emphasizing that there’s even more to come from the young Liverpool winger.
Scot Gemmill on Doak’s performance & Van Dijk praises
Gemmill noted that Doak isn’t currently at his peak fitness due to limited playing time with Liverpool’s first team but praised his outstanding display against Spain.
“It was an exceptional performance from Ben Doak,”
Gemmill went on to tell reporters.
“I would even add that’s there more to come from him. He’s not fully match fit at the moment because of his limited minutes as he is playing for such a good club.
I thought it was a really top performance and hopefully everyone saw that.”
Doak’s limited appearances for Liverpool this season can be attributed to the competition he faces from star player Mohamed Salah on the right side of Jurgen Klopp’s attack.
Despite an impressive pre-season showing, Doak’s competitive minutes have been scarce. He did make a positive impression on Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, who recognized his potential.
Van Dijk continued by sharing his thoughts with the reporters who were present during Liverpool’s last pre-season friendly against Darmstadt in early August, which took place at Preston.
“When I saw him last year, I remember when he came on against Villa away last year (for Doak’s Premier League debut as a late substitute in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day), and he did that stepover and went past the full-back,”
Ben Doak to get more gametime for Liverpool this season
The 17-year-old winger, who joined Liverpool from Celtic for £600,000 last summer, has experience in high-stakes matches, having featured in an Old Firm derby against Rangers for the Celtic first team.
While Doak has only played a few minutes for Liverpool’s senior team, he has demonstrated his abilities at various youth levels.
He quickly progressed from the U18s to the U21s, scoring goals along the way. His contribution to the UEFA Youth League and his performance in the League Cup and FA Cup outings have hinted at his potential.
Although Doak’s promotion to the first-team squad has limited his appearances for the U21s in Premier League 2, he now has the chance to shine in the League Cup and Europa League, with Liverpool’s campaigns in both competitions starting soon.
If Doak continues to develop, he could become a valuable option for Liverpool in the coming weeks and beyond.
The prospect of a fully-fit Ben Doak has Liverpool fans eager to see what he can bring to the team.
Liverpool is my Religion and Anfield is my Church. 17th May 1996 the date I had my blood coloured red. The one you love the most you can not live without it and that is football to me.
