Steve Clarke has admitted Ben Doak's chance for a Scotland call-up "won't be too far away".
The Liverpool winger was not included in the national team selection for the upcoming fixtures against Cyprus and England.
However, Clarke revealed he is keeping tabs on the former Celtic kid and suggested he is "close" to a chance to join the top Scotland side.
Doak, 17, was handed his debut for Liverpool last season and has featured from the bench in the Premier League this campaign. He is a regular in Jurgen Klopp's Anfield matchday squads.
“Anybody who is doing well for their club, especially at a club like Liverpool, playing off the bench in the English Premier League, they are always going to be close," said Clarke of Doak's Scotland state of play.
“I just feel that on this occasion, it was the right time to bring in Elliot [Anderson].
“Ben knows that we are watching him, he knows that he is part of the future, but he has to continue doing what he is doing at his club, and he has to continue playing well.
"If he does that, I’m sure his turn won’t be too far away.”
Newcastle's Anderson decided to switch his allegiance to Scotland as he received his first selection for the Scotland squad.
The midfielder was born in England but qualifies for the Scotland squad through his grandmother.
“Elliot has been through the under-age groups with Scotland, he is one we have had an eye on," said Clarke.
“He had a little think about choosing between Scotland and England. We had some good discussions with the boy and his family and he has chosen to come with us, which is good for us now and certainly good for us in the future.
“He has been with us in general. Obviously when you get to a certain stage in your career and you can see your career is starting to take off, which Elliot’s is at Newcastle…We have got some great reports from people within the club at Newcastle, which is good to hear.
“Then you have to make that choice. Elliot was born in England, he has got decisions to make, and we are just happy he has come down on our side.
“He has been involved in the under-age, he has played in the under-21s, so he has chosen to stay with us and hopefully that turns out to be a good decision for Elliot and ourselves.
“I think it shows how well the boys that I have been picking on a regular basis have done. Qualification for Euro 2020 and obviously we are looking to qualify for another major tournament this time, and we hope we can continue to improve.
“I have always tried to look down towards the under-age groups, the under-21s, to try to give a pathway so that we are not just having a squad for now but looking to build a squad that will carry us through not just the next tournament but the tournament after that and the tournament after that. Elliot is part of that process.”
