Ben Doak might always go down as a lost Bhoy but Anthony Ralston reckons there are going to be plenty of full backs finding out just how Celtic feel.
The Hoops couldn’t hang on to the youngster with Liverpool came calling – and it’s just as tough for defenders to keep tabs on the teenage flying machine. Just as poor Josko Gvardiol. Unlike Celtic fans, the £77m Man City and Croatia man was glad to see the back of Doak after Friday’s night’s Hampden chasing.
Ralston wasn’t surprised. He knew from the start the kid was something special when he first hooked up with the Hoops senior squad in training. The attacker got his first taste of top team action at just 16 with punters purring over the prospect. But it didn’t take long before Liverpool came calling and a move to Anfield proved to be too tempting to turn down.
Doak quickly won over former Red boss Jurgen Klopp and it was only injury that stopped his charge towards a regular role in the first team for the EPL giants – as well as his place at Euro 2024. The speed merchant – who turned 19 last week – has now got the opportunity to kid on at Middlesbrough on loan and Scotland are seeing the immediate benefits.
And while the winger might always be the one that got away for the Parkhead side, Ralston is convinced Doak is going places. He said: “I obviously know him from my time at Celtic, he came in as a young lad, he’s still as young.
“He’s done brilliant every chance he’s got for Scotland, and I’m delighted for him for the way he played against Croatia, for him and his family. So, he just needs to keep his head down and keep working.
“I trained with him, and he obviously had that flair. He’s rapid, you can see that for yourself. He definitely is humble, that’s the main thing, mentally keeping that, and also doing the work in training, playing and taking opportunities like he’s done.
“I’m delighted for him. You can see how excited everyone is about him, and that’s it, it gives us that extra outlet on things, attacking wise. He can go direct, he can go one v one, and he did both on Friday night.
“We know his qualities. Fair play to him, he’s come into the team and been a lease of life down the right. He’s helped me, he makes me look good! But he’s been brilliant.”
Doak has made an instant impact with Scotland – and it’s been the same at club level on his loan move to Middlesbrough. Riverside teammate Tommy Conway – who got his first Hampden start in the Croatia win – has seen the kid up close this term and been blown away too.
The striker reckons the youngster has his feet on the ground – just about – but he’s destined to hit the heights. Conway said: “We do enjoy playing together. We have a little joke about it, we call ourselves the Boro Boys.
“Hopefully we can continue that at club level and hopefully again in March when we rejoin up. He’s a humble, down-to-earth boy. But there’s times where he knows he’s a good player. You need that, don’t you?
“I wasn’t going to say it’s a bad thing. I think it’s important to have that as a footballer. He’s got that in abundance, but it’s not like it comes across in a bad way.
“I’ve always said that for some people it can come across as a bit of a let down. But the way Dokey does it, it almost comes across like fair play.
“He’s a young boy coming through and you can see why he’s so sure of himself. You’re almost drawn to that side of him.
“He makes you like him more and when he backs it up on the pitch, it’s like fair play. He knows his ability and he’s backing it up on the pitch. And for someone at such a young age, I think it speaks volumes for his character.”
Gallus, might be the word. Conway might have to ask his dad and grandad what it means but there’s no need to explain it to the Tartan Army. Doak has that self-confident swagger too often lacking in our humble home grown talent and Conway is convinced the attitude and ability will get him to the very top with Scotland and at club level.
He said: “He’s got a bright future ahead of him. We’re lucky to have him with Scotland. I’m lucky to have him at Middlesbrough.
“For how long, we don’t know. But yes, he’s a special player. We just want to get him the ball, because we know, especially in a game with ten men, he can cause carnage and he’s created something for us.
“Ultimately, that’s the winning goal. He’s a dream to play with, because you know he’s so direct.
“You know he’s going to put that step over and get to the byline and put the ball across, like he did against Croatia. I think, game by game, he’s getting better and better, from what I’ve seen at club level. He’s now taken it on to the international stage as well, which is a joy to see.”