Ben Doak couldn’t inspire Middlesbrough to a win on Friday night – but the Scotland winger took plenty of plaudits for another dazzling individual performance.
The Liverpool loanee has thoroughly impressed in the Championship since joining Michael Carrick’s team near the end of the window. He has just one goal in 14 appearances but has also racked up five assists in that time and consistently ranks near the league’s best in other statistical metrics which indicate an uptick in his goal involvements will come.
During their 1-1 draw with Burnley, LFC Transfer Room shared an incredible graphic that shows him leading the way both for key passes and progressive runs per 90, among players under 20 across every league in Europe. But if you’re not convinced the stats speak for themselves, you only had to watch the show he put on at Turf Moor.
Doak‘s electric running down the right consistently had the beating of his opposite number Bashir Humphreys. George Smith, writer for our sister title the Manchester Evening News, posted on X: “Ben Doak is slowly becoming impossible to ignore. I said at the time of Middlesbrough signing him in the summer he had the capacity to be one of the loan signing of the summer. His ball control is seriously impressive, likewise his creative ability. One to watch.”
Fans from all corners were impressed too. One Liverpool fan said: “Ben Doak is unstoppable. Massive player for our future, can’t wait to see him at Anfield next season,” while a cheeky Middlesbrough supporter added: “Ben Doak is that bad it’s only right that Liverpool give us him on a permanent with no sell on clauses.”
One punter labelled him a Championship ‘cheat code’ while another said: “How much is Ben Doak worth? Kid is special.”