STEVE Clarke has admitted he is monitoring Ben Doak’s progress closely and predicted the Liverpool winger will force his way into the Scotland squad in the near future if he continues to feature for the Anfield club.
The 17-year-old played extensively for the English giants during pre-season and manager Jurgen Klopp used him as a substitute in the Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier this month.
The former Celtic kid has not been named in Clarke’s 25 man squad for the Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus in Larnaca and the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match against England at Hampden next month.
However, the ex-Liverpool assistant manager stressed he has been pleased to see Doak performing so impressively down south and is certain he will hand him his first call-up soon if he continues to flourish.
“Ben’s doing very well at his club,” he said. “If you are involved at a club like Liverpool then you are doing well. I just felt this was the right time to bring in Elliot (Newcastle United midfielder Anderson).
“Ben, if he continues to do what he’s doing, will be involved in the future. I wouldn’t worry too much that. Ben will go with the Scotland Under 21s. He will get 90 minutes with them (against Spain in a European qualifier in Jaen next month), which is good because he’s not getting a lot of 90 minutes.
"Anybody who is doing well for their club, especially at a club like Liverpool, and is playing off the bench in the English Premier League, they are always going to be close. Ben knows that we are watching him.
“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. He’s certainly one for the future and if he keeps doing what he’s doing he’s going to make my job even more difficult, which is fantastic.”
Clarke, whose men can take a significant step closer to the Euro 2024 finals in Germany next summer if they can beat Cyprus away in their next Group A fixture, is pleased with the number of Scotland players who have been scoring goals this season.
He omitted Jacob Brown, who completed a £2.5m move from Stoke City to Premier League new boys Luton Town earlier this month, from his squad because of the form Che Adams, Kevin Nisbet and Lawrence Shankland have shown for Southampton, Millwall and Hearts respectively in recent weeks.
“Obviously, it was a great move for Jacob to get the move to Luton,” he said. “I just felt it was better for Jacob at this time to settle into his new club and a new environment. Let him settle in.
“Lawrence is scoring a lot of goals, Kevin managed to get a goal at the weekend which is good, Che’s scored three this year. I saw one of his games.
“Fergie scored yesterday (midfielder Lewis Ferguson netted for Bologna in a 1-1 draw with Juventus in a Serie A match in the Allianz Stadium on Sunday). So we’ve got players who are scoring goals.
“Jacob can count himself a little bit unlucky because he’s had that big move. But it also tells you how difficult it is for me now to make a selection, which is great.”
