Ben Doak is tipped to have a breakout season for Liverpool
Ben Doak is tipped to have a breakout season for Liverpool
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View: Liverpool youth star Ben Doak must kick on after Scotland bow

Connor Burgess
Connor Burgess

Connor is a professional sports writer from Liverpool, UK. He currently writes for Breaking Media Limited on liverpoolnews247.com, as well as other sites. Connor is soon to have a Masters degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores and will soon be NCTJ qualified. He has previously worked for the Liverpool ECHO and Planet Sport. Connor comes from a split Liverpool and Everton family but fell in love with Liverpool after a trip to Anfield when he was a child. He recently attended Jurgen Klopp's last trophy win in the Carabao Cup final in 2024.

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Liverpool forward Ben Doak must capitalise on the momentum of his senior Scotland debut and force himself into Arne Slot's plans next season.

The 18-year-old made his international debut for the Scotland senior side in a 19 minute cameo in the 3-2 loss to Poland in the UEFA Nations League clash on Thursday (5 September)

Doak secured a season-long loan move to Championship outfit Middlesbrough on deadline day [BBC Sport, 30 August] in search of regular first-team football this season and the chance to impress Slot in the second tier.

Ben Doak needs to fight for his Liverpool future this season

It was a tough campaign for Doak last time out, a long-term injury stunted his development and forced the winger to withdraw from the Scotland Euro 2024 squad.

Liverpool supporters will be relieved the club saw sense in sanctioning a loan move to a top Championship side rather than a reported permanent sale to either Leicester City or Southampton [Dave OCKOP].

Doak has a bright future at the Reds, he debuted at 16 against Derby County in the Carabao Cup in 2022 and was a standout performer in the 0-0 draw.

Following the arrival of Federico Chiesa from Juventus, playing time under Slot would have been limited for Doak this year, and, a move to Middlesbrough provides the perfect platform to accelerate his development after a year on the sidelines.

AXA Training Centre
Liverpool AXA Training Centre

Given that sporting director Richard Hughes oversaw a summer exodus of the academy talent at the AXA Training Centre this summer, it speaks volumes to how highly the Reds rate the Scottish winger hence why they chose to prioritise his progress with an eye on integrating him into the first team next season.

With his first senior international cap under his belt, Doak has to get his head down and perform in the Championship and for the national side this year. All six of the Reds attackers are not nailed to remain at the club from next season onwards and a spot to impress Slot for the 2025/26 season could be on the cards for Doak.

In other Liverpool news, Arne Slot must axe Andy Robertson after what he did against Manchester United.

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Liverpool
Scotland
Ben Doak
Middlesbrough
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