Liverpool teenage star Ben Doak admits he has been looking up to Mohamed Salah for ways to improve his game.
The 16-year-old scored just eight minutes into his Scotland Under-21 debut against Northern Ireland on Thursday, becoming the age group's youngest ever scorer and second-youngest player in the process. He will be hoping for another appearance this afternoon in the reverse fixture in Paisley.
But the former Celtic star’s instant impact should be of no surprise to Liverpool fans, who have seen the teenager - who arrived this summer for £600,000 - score twice on his under-18 Premier League debut and open his account in the UEFA Youth League win against Napoli. And Doak admitted that since arriving at the Reds, he has been taking lessons from the Egyptian King himself on how to bring more to his overall game.
"My debut for the Under-21s just felt like any other game to be honest,” Doak told the Glasgow Times. “I wasn't really nervous. The boys have been good with me and I have settled in and I felt very comfortable. For me recently, there's been a lot of adjustments, but I think I've been comfortable and I think I have done really well with the changes.
"It's mostly been about me getting to know people - the football has not really changed - it's been about getting to know the boys and the staff at the new club. I just need to try and keep getting better, particularly on the off-the-ball stuff.
"I am trying to make what I do on the ball a lot better. That's one of my strengths, but you can always do better. I look up to Mo Salah obviously. Even if he is not having the greatest of games he always pops up with a goal. His numbers are incredible and speak for themselves.
"I scored against Napoli in the Youth League. It helps that I've done really well in the first couple of games. I've got all the numbers to back that up as well. Even if I am not having a good game, I can just look back to what I have done earlier in the season to keep my confidence up.
"Six months ago you would never have found me defending whatsoever. And that's the difference between making it into a first team player rather than just a youth player. I am trying to turn my all-round game into a strength.
"I have not seen the first team too often, but I think that's deliberate and to make you want to get up there. If I saw them all the time it wouldn't be normal. It should be a privilege to be up there."
Doak made two substitute appearances for Celtic’s senior side last season and was highly-regarded among the staff at Hampden Park. But the teenager remains sure he has chosen the right path in joining the Reds and is in the best possible place for his personal development.
"I was just trying to think of the best path to go down to get better as a football player,” Doak added. “But once I went down there to Liverpool and saw the standards and the facilities, it's top, top level. You don't get any better than where I am at right now.
"I'm in the best place."
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