Jurgen Klopp's high praise for Ben Doak suggests increased role this season

Ben Doak could be in for a breakout season at Liverpool in 2023/24.

The young winger who joined the Reds from Celtic in 2022 has long been tipped for a bright future, having made his Scottish Premiership, Scotland Under-21s and Liverpool first-team debuts all before his 17th birthday.

Doak, who scored 11 times and registered eight assists across the various youth team competitions in 2022/23, has joined up with Jurgen Klopp's first team for the training camp in Germany ahead of their first pre-season game against Karlsruher on Wednesday.

It's a valuable time to impress the coaching staff ahead of the new campaign, and it seems the young Scot is wasting no time in showing what he can do.

In an Inside Training video shared by the club on LFCTV GO, Doak finishes off a move after cross from Andy Robertson.

Klopp can be heard in the background exclaiming, "the present and future of Scotland. I can't believe it!"

The Liverpool manager's comment could be a reference to words from Scotland manager Steve Clarke, who name-checked Doak back in June.

“He’s [Doak] an attacker and probably a really difficult player to play against. Because he just runs. He’s so quick and he can go either way,” Clarke said, via footballscotland.

“You could probably play him as a striker. Just ask him to run in behind teams and stretch them.

“Again, at 17 he’s just a youngster. But he’s been in and around the Liverpool first team, without making the breakthrough.

“That’s not a criticism because it’s difficult to do at a club like that. Hopefully going forward [Doak and Aston Villa's Rory Wilson] can be a big part of our future.”

Doak made five senior appearances for the Liverpool first team last season, a tally he could well improve upon in 2023/24.

With Fabio Carvalho's loan move to RB Leipzig and Roberto Firmino's contract expiry, Liverpool are two forwards down heading into the new campaign, with many tipping Doak to step up as the natural understudy to Mohamed Salah.

The Europa League group stage could be an opportunity for minutes for several Reds youngsters.

Speaking during pre-season, Klopp admitted the door is open for Doak and others to earn their place in his plans.

He said, via Liverpoolfc.com: “So, there are now not too many new players but [we have] a lot of young players, of course, in and young players for who the door is open, who can play a different role next season. They are all a year older, looking really good – Conor Bradley looking really good, Ben Doak really good, Bobby Clark grew somehow, which is normal!

“They all can play a slightly different role if they want and yeah, how I said, there is an open door for that."

READ MORE: Liverpool academy stars who could break through in 2023/24