Scotland U17s’ blow as former Celtic star ruled out of Euros
Scotland Under-17s will have to make do without one of the very best stars for the European Championships in Israel next month with the news Ben Doak is unavailable due to injury.
Theteenagesensationrecently completed a move to Liverpoolfromceltic,havingalready made two appearances for Ange Postecoglou, such is the promise of the forward.
Doakhelpedbrianmclaughlin’s side reach the finals of the tournament, where they have beendrawninagroupwithportugal, Sweden and Denmark, with a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Georgia in qualification, as well as providing an assist in a 2-2 draw with Czech Republic.
“I’m disappointed for him, because his attitude since I first got to know and work with him in June has been terrific,” Mclaughlin said. “It would have been good to see him play against the best in Europe, but he’ll just need to recover from his injury, continue to train the way he trains and he will get other chances to play against
the best at another time.
“It’s not serious. It’s one of thoseinjuriesthattryingtoplay three games in a week and with the amount of games and playingonhardsurfacesinthattype of weather in Israel wouldn’t have helped him. We won't take a chance on any young player.”
Mclaughlin has been impressed with the 16-year-old since he started to work with him. Not just his ability, but the mindset and ambitions to become a top footballer.
“The good thing for me is I have got to know him. He’s played seven or eight international games, hopefully, we have established a connection and the big push for Ben now will be to get fit and keep the great attitude he has and keep progressing.
“Celtic did a great job in developing him and I presume they wanted to keep him. The last time we were away, this was going on in the background. As soon as he got onto the training ground, he just trained hard and when he went on to the pitch, despite all the rumours atthetime,hejustgotonwithit.
“Ben just wants to become an international football player and he's great to work with.
“As soon as I got to know him in June I asked him if he wanted to become a better player and the answer was always the same – he wanted to get to the very top.”