After making an unexpected choice, Liverpool’s adolescent “Tasmanian Devil” might become Arne Slot’s breakthrough player.
Ben Doak’s announcement of a call-up to the Scotland squad for the upcoming European Championships was perhaps the perfect way to cap off what was hailed as a breakthrough season last summer. The Liverpool winger’s selection in his nation’s 28-man squad for the finals in Germany, however, has generated a great deal of controversy and considerable surprise. This season has been challenging for the 18-year-old, whose injury issues have prevented him from playing a minute for the Reds at any level since he had a significant knee surgery in December due to a lateral meniscus tear.
Doak may not be ready for Scotland’s first warm-up match against Gibraltar in Portugal on Monday, but Clarke says he might be able to play in the home friendly against Finland five days later. If I decide to do so, he could be able to play for a few minutes in the second game, according to Clarke. Actually, though, Doak’s possible selection continues the pattern of the young player being given special treatment early in his career. In the summer of 2022, at the age of 16, he signed a contract for approximately £600,000 with Liverpool after making an appearance in an Old Firm game against Rangers. After just five games and two goals in his competitive debut with the under-18s, he was promoted to the U21s, where he made his first start.