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Liverpool prodigy is going to cause CARNAGE

Liverpool prodigy is going to cause CARNAGE

Will Comish 11 Nov 2024, 15:30 Last modified: 14 Nov 2024

For many years now, Liverpool's academy has been widely acknowledged to be one of the best in the world for developing young players.

From Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold to Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones, Liverpool have been producing young talented footballers for quite some time.

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Currently fresh off the production line are Conor Bradley, Jayden Danns and Owen Beck; Liverpool's brightest stars going forward and each set to break into Liverpool's first team in the years to come.

By playing in the club's youth set-up for the under-19s or under-21s, or through loan moves, the Reds will be sure to have academy prospects lining up for first-team experience once the fundamentals are in place.

However, one academy graduate in particular is already making a name for himself in his national team set-up.

Ben Doak shines

Since receiving a call-up to the Scottish national team by head coach Steve Clarke, 19-year-old Ben Doak has really announced himself as one of the next big talented young players to enter international football.

Playing on loan from Liverpool at Championship club Middlesbrough this season, he has one goal and three assists, showcasing himself as a serious asset for any team, utilising his lightning pace and dribbling ability.

And in between playing for the Boro, he's been in both of Scotland's squads for the UEFA Nations League.

Although Scotland's squad, led by captain Andy Robertson, is filled with youthful players, it says a lot that Clarke feels able to trust Doak as a key asset in their forward line.

'Carnage' expected

Speaking to The Herald, Doak's fellow Scottish Middlesbrough teammate Tommy Conway praised the relationship the young pair have developed.

He said: "I think since Doaky's come into the club, I've put my arm around him, I've looked after him for a bit, but to be fair, he's taken to it like a duck to water.

"I can't say enough about him. He's what he is like on the pitch, off it as well. He's electric, he's always at it, the boy. Hopefully, we can take that onto the international stage and cause carnage there as well.

"Given his pace, if you give him some space, you know he's going to be in. His pace and his skills are there to see. Like I said, he's such a young boy and he's still got so much to learn, but what he's doing at the minute is a credit to him."

Having already featured in games in Europe as well as domestically for Liverpool, Doak is a player the club think is destined for the top, but despite having such enviable talent, he was deemed too raw for the Reds to utilise this season.

However, now at Middlesbrough, his assets are clear to see, producing countless high-quality performances, as the Championship side now sit seventh in the table, on the back of four games unbeaten.

Focusing predominantly on the right side of the pitch, Doak may well be able to learn some lessons from Mohamed Salah when he comes back from his loan, should the Egyptian renew his contract.

But when Doak arrives back on Merseyside after a positive loan spell, he will undoubtedly be a better player for the lessons he's learnt and fans will be envious to see him lighting up Anfield again in the future.