Will Liverpool REALLY recall Ben Doak in January?

Liverpool often sends players on loan in order to fast-track their development by ensuring they receive regular minutes at a professional level.

When they return, the club then has a batch of players that are better equipped to compete in the first team set-up.

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For example, Stefan Bajcetic is on loan with former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders at RB Salzburg, primarily as a way to improve his fitness after he spent the majority of last season sidelined with a calf injury.

In fact, the midfielder has missed 80 games for club and country over the last three seasons, so the loan enables Liverpool's senior executives to track his progress this season, before making a judgement call on his career at Liverpool.

For young winger Ben Doak, however, who had featured fleetingly for Liverpool in different competitions, showcasing his raw dribbling ability, the club felt a loan move was appropriate in order to refine his talent.

But given how impressive Doak has proved to be so far at Middlesbrough, it seems highly unlikely that his career is in doubt, more so the opposite - at what point does he get a proper go in a team long-term?

Liverpool's January recall clause

While away with Boro this season, playing in the Championship, Doak has been able to find his rhythm.

Delivering a number of standout performances, the 19-year-old has shown that he is a star for the future that Liverpool have to nurture very carefully.

He has one goal and five assists with Boro, and this includes five big chances missed, so he has clear room for improvement.

However, he has technically excelled, winning 4.2 duels on average per game, and having 2.0 successful dribbles per game, per Sofascore.

And alongside his form for his club, he has also been allowed to represent the Scottish national team on international duty, after manager Steve Clarke was impressed by what he was seeing from Doak.

Last month, while away with Scotland, his current Middlesbrough teammate Tommy Conway was full of praise for him.

Speaking via The Herald, he said: "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."

As such, Liverpool can so far view his loan move as a success. But, while the club may have looked at him as being surplus to requirements this season, there might be an opportunity for Doak to bring his performances back to Merseyside.

Mohamed Salah has been exceptional this season and is showing no sign of slowing down, but traditionally, the second half of the campaign is where he shifts down a gear and is involved slightly less.

In addition, Liverpool's only real signing this season, Federico Chiesa, has been plagued by injuries since he stepped foot on Merseyside, so the club is currently unable to rely on him to rest Salah on the right wing.

One possible option the club could take in order to alleviate Arne Slot of this possible issue? Bringing Doak back from loan.

What do Doak and his manager think of the idea?

Through supporting Doak on the pitch, Middlesbrough's manager Michael Carrick knows that the winger is destined to return to Liverpool at the end of the season.

And given Liverpool have a 'recall clause' available to them, to use at any time, he has already developed his own opinion on the idea.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Gazette Live), Carrick responded, saying: "I’m quite calm about it to be honest. No drama. I think we are calm. There are loads of things, ifs and buts and changes in football - that’s transfer windows. I’ve said it to you enough times, but I’m really calm about it to be honest.

"I’m happy with the way that things are going and we’ll take what comes next and deal with it. Ben’s happy, we’re happy, he’s in a good place. You can see in his body language and demeanour, he’s happy. He keeps working hard and he’s enjoying it here and it’s been effective for us. As long as that carries on then we’re all good."

Having played 15 matches for Boro, it would certainly be a blow to Carrick if Doak were to be recalled. It certainly seems as though the move was well chosen as the player seems to have been able to relax and show his best qualities.

Doak also spoke to Sky Sports (via Gazette Live), and in response to the question 'is Middlesbrough the best place for him to be right now?', he said: “Yeah, without a doubt. I think we play some of the best football in the league and I think a lot of that comes down the right-hand side. I think it suits me really well and I’ve got a great group of lads around me - a lot of talented footballers."

As such, Liverpool will have an important decision to make with Doak, because by the sounds of things, he isn't exactly missing his parent club, and he is playing his best stuff yet.

If it were decided that Doak should remain on loan, then Arne Slot might need to get a little inventive if Salah's form were to cool off, perhaps by using Harvey Elliott at right-wing, but the decision is unlikely to be a straightforward one.

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