Steve Clarke has backed Liverpool teenager Ben Doak to turn into a Scotland recreation changer.
The uncapped 18-year-old was named as a part of a provisional 28-man squad for subsequent month’s Euro 2024 finals, regardless of being sidelined by knee surgical procedure final December.
The previous Celtic participant has managed simply seven appearances and 345 minutes of motion this season. Now again in full coaching, Clarke believes the Anfield attacker provides one thing completely different to the pool.
He might even give the teen his first cap within the ultimate warm-up in opposition to Finland at Hampden on June 7 earlier than submitting his revised squad of 26 to UEFA.
Clarke mentioned: ‘At this stage, Ben is the younger one who catches my eye, if I’m being sincere. He has obtained one thing, attributes that we don’t have within the squad.
‘His searing tempo can be one among them. However he has nonetheless obtained lots to study, as do all of the younger boys once you convey them in. Everybody has obtained to study.
Doak in motion for Scotland Beneath-21s, however now he’s a part of senior squad for Euros
Clarke says attacker Doak supplies one thing completely different to the remainder of his gamers
Teenager Doak is very rated by former Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp
‘Ben hopefully can be a giant participant for us sooner or later and possibly this summer season he could make a bit of contribution as nicely.
‘He’s match and again coaching along with his membership.
‘He did a bit of bit with the crew final week and we are going to converse to his membership.
‘We are going to communicate with them and, from the 2 video games, the primary one (in opposition to Gibraltar in Portugal on June 3) may come a bit of bit too quickly. However possibly within the second recreation, he can get some minutes on the pitch, if I select to try this.’
Clarke handed Billy Gilmour and Nathan Patterson their first publicity to a significant event on the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Launched to the Liverpool first crew by Jurgen Klopp, Doak attracted hype and excessive expectations earlier than a meniscus harm curtailed his progress.
Warning the Tartan Military to not count on miracles from a participant sidelined for the final 5 months, Clarke added: ‘I feel it turns into a hazard in the event you put an excessive amount of stress on a younger boy who remains to be studying the sport and making his means within the recreation.
‘It’s good that he’s concerned within the squad, however let’s simply maintain a lid on issues and hope that he develops and seems to be the expertise that we predict and hope he may be.
Doak has the form of velocity that Scots might use in Germany subsequent month
Clarke has been impressed by Doak and says he might contribute at Euro finals
Forrest is at reverse finish of profession to Doak however has been recalled to Scotland squad
‘I feel when it comes to the final one, I checked out Nathan coming by at Rangers on the time. Billy was clearly anyone I had recognized for a very long time with him coming by at Chelsea and David (Turnbull) at the moment was breaking into the Celtic crew.
‘They have been prepared to affix the squad. You’re going again three years, so I used to be nonetheless attempting to construct this group. I used to be nonetheless searching for individuals to return in, searching for individuals to make us higher and develop the group.
‘There may be at all times an opportunity to point out what you are able to do.’
Bristol Metropolis’s Ross McCrorie is the opposite uncapped participant named within the squad, with veteran winger James Forrest rewarded for a late run of kind at Celtic. Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack is included regardless of taking part in his final recreation 11 weeks in the past.
‘There may be cowl within the squad,’ added Clarke, who has misplaced Patterson, Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson and Jacob Brown to harm.
‘I’ve tried to cowl all positions, all potentialities. There may be nonetheless a bit tumbling round in my thoughts that I have to see over the following 10 days, half-a-dozen coaching periods and two friendlies. Then I can agency up what I do after I go to Germany.’
