It’s imperative to avoid placing too much pressure on young players but it’s difficult to contain the excitement around Ben Doak. Highly respected figures within Scottish football regard Doak as the biggest talent the country has produced in decades and he’s already made an impact at Liverpool since moving down south.
Ange Postecoglou handed Doak his professional debut at Celtic just weeks after his 16th birthday and his first Liverpool start arrived in September after a number of standout cameos last season.
Many gifted youngsters have struggled to deal with the fame and fortune that coincides with playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, but Doak exudes a refreshing humbleness. Modern footballers are increasingly reluctant to face the media, and standoffish when they oblige, but surrounded by journalists in a tight corridor at Fir Park, Doak makes it impossible not to be impressed.
Polite and engaging, the 17-year-old makes a point of shaking every hand after an interview providing reassurance that his support network - family and teammates - will ensure his feet remain firmly on the ground.
“My family are good,” Doak admitted with his grandad Martin, a former professional at Morton, a big influence. "They bring me right back down to earth. And the older players at Liverpool, like Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Mo Salah, quickly remind me, ‘Listen you’re only 17, you’ve not done anything yet, keep grounded and keep working hard’.
“My first few months when I was in and around it a lot, it was a bit “oh my god, that’s Mo Salah, that’s Andy Robertson. I was starstruck, but I settled in really quickly. They’re all really good. They’re all just normal lads.
“I’ve had a lot of opportunities — much more than last season. I’m really enjoying myself when I get an opportunity but, at the same time, it can get frustrating because I’m not playing as often as I’m used to with the youth teams. I’ve just got to bide my time, but my time is coming. I’ve just got to stay patient. I have a good support group around me and they keep me grounded.”
Jurgen Klopp promoted Doak to his first-team squad this summer and he’s been effusive in praise of his ability. He represents a throwback to wingers of old, full of trickery with an abundance of pace and confidence to leave defenders bamboozled.
Liverpool’s participation in the Europa League will allow Klopp to play Doak in a less pressurised environment than the Premier League. Mo Salah, Luiz Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Jota are an immense collection of attacking talent and Doak recognises the standard of the competition.
“I look ahead and I know why I’m not playing,” he added. "It’s because one of the best players in the Premier League is in front of me. So I have no reason to complain. I’m just trying my best to learn from him and all the others as well. They’re dead good with me, always taking me aside to tell me what I should be doing. They help me keep my head as well.
"They know the situation I’m in. They were all the same as well, they’ve helped me a lot. The gaffer’s quite quiet. I think he knows that I know what he expects. I’m just trying to get on his good side and stay on his good side.
“No, not at all,” Doak replied when asked if he had any regrets over moving to Liverpool. “Without being disrespectful to teams up here, the level at Liverpool, a team that got to three Champions League finals in recent years, is incredible.
"It’s the highest I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. It’s a must to set the bar high for my levels. The other players’ standards seem so high without trying sometimes because they’re just that good.
“I need to set those levels for myself. If I’m off it one day then it’s dead frustrating but that’s just something for me to work on.”
Doak oozes a maturity that defies his years and he’s already a prominent figure for Scotland’s Under-21s. There’s been a significant clamour for him to be fast tracked into the senior squad and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that moment could arrive next week.
After arriving back from Seville at 4 am, Steve Clarke attended Fir Park on Thursday night as Doak scored in the 3-1 win over Hungary. Clarke, perhaps coincidentally, headed for the exit just minutes after the Liverpool starlet was withdrawn surprisingly on the hour mark.
Scot Gemmill acted coy about a senior call-up post match while Doak hinted at a slight knock as he insisted he was unaware of Clarke’s presence.
“I wasn’t [aware of Clarke's presence]," Doak confessed. "Not until after the match. That’s really motivating. I’m happy I played well and got my goal.
“If I’d known before the game, it wouldn’t have mattered. I’d have done the same thing whether he was here or not.
“Nah, I’m not at all [thinking about the Euros next summer]. I’m just trying to take it day by day because if I start thinking that far ahead, it gets too stressful. I’d get too worked up, too frustrated. I can’t even think about next week.”
Whether the call arrives to face France on Tuesday night remains to be seen but senior recognition will inevitably come soon. Doak is aware of Clarke’s recent acknowledgement and Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson also keeps him informed - not that he believes everything the Scotland captain tells him.
"I’ve got Robbo at the club and he tells me a few things. Whether they’re true or not, that’s a different story,” Doak joked. “I’m going to assume they’re true. He tells me a few things but I’m not really worried — I have so much time.
“I have plenty of time to get better and I’ll get picked for that team whenever they think I’m ready.”
There’s a huge amount of optimism around the national team currently with Scotland on the brink of securing qualification for Euro 2024. And while it’s important not to get carried away by Doak’s emergence, the excitement seems well placed.
