Ben Doak has caught the attention along with his performances on mortgage at Middlesbrough to date, with the Liverpool winger described as a “game-changer” for his new membership.
Doak headed to the Championship on the finish of the summer time switch window, becoming a member of Michael Carrick’s upwardly cell Middlesbrough after a pre-season underneath Arne Slot.
It served as a great state of affairs for {the teenager}, after fears that he may as a substitute be bought, with a transfer to the English second tier permitting him to show he deserves a task in Liverpool’s first-team squad.
To this point, Doak has performed 10 instances for a facet sitting seventh within the Championship, with a aim and three assists – organising three targets in his final two outings.
However how is the 19-year-old actually performing? Is he exhibiting sufficient to impress these again at Anfield?
To listen to about Doak’s time at Middlesbrough to date and what comes subsequent, This Is Anfield spoke with TeesideLive’s Craig Johns (@craig_johns).
It was a late deal in the summertime, so what was the response to Boro signing Doak?
I’d say there was a eager sense of intrigue and speedy feeling that Doak should be particular.
There have been quite a lot of causes behind that feeling.
Boro didn’t really want one other ahead participant per se, having already signed a pair in the summertime window, whereas they’ve tried as a lot as doable to keep away from too many loans like Doak’s the place there may be little to no prospect of something past the one season.
??? Potential recreation changer… #UTB https://t.co/shNPLN9Gok
— Chris Jones (@ChrisJonesy84) August 30, 2024
That Boro went in opposition to that and signed Doak was an indicator they felt he was particular, and certainly their head of recruitment mentioned as a lot after getting the deal over the road, describing Doak as a “potential game-changer.”
All that married with the very fact there was a lot curiosity in him made for a sense of pleasure.
He’s put collectively an honest spotlight reel to date, however how has he carried out general?
He’s been precisely as described – a game-changer.
Except one recreation in opposition to Watford, he’s had left-backs within the Championship completely terrified.
His direct dribbling model is an actual throwback and it’s good for a Boro facet who, till Doak’s introduction into the beginning lineup, have been discovering sides sitting again behind the ball in opposition to them they usually’d wrestle to interrupt that down.
With Doak now an everyday, they’re breaking sides down far simpler, with the teen undoubtedly key to that.
There’s nonetheless room for enchancment as properly. At instances he can get himself into harmful positions after which fail along with his ultimate ball or shot, but it surely’s a minor level to be anticipated of an only-just 19-year-old.
What has stood out most?
His tempo, skill to beat a person on the dribble and his mentality to maintain going.
Even when he doesn’t get the tip product proper on the finish, he’s proven completely no indicators of being deterred. He’s straight again on the ball trying to make an influence.
And are there any areas he may enhance?
At instances, it’s that finish product.
In his defence, it received’t at all times be his fault. He will get to the byline and applies the cutback and there won’t at all times be the choices within the field for him to hit.
One other little bit of reward I’d give him is he does combine it up properly somewhat than simply be a one-trick pony down the wing.
He’ll generally minimize in from the wing and check out a shot, but it surely’s truthful to say his left-foot capturing accuracy may very well be improved.
The way in which Boro play doesn’t actually swimsuit an inverted winger off the left, however that seems to be a task he may play in a crew that might make use of that.
Is there the rest you’ll be able to inform us from protecting Doak’s time at Boro to date?
One factor that’s in all probability value emphasising is his character. His mentality to maintain making an attempt encapsulates all the pieces that we hear about him when it comes to his confidence and self-belief.
Michael Carrick and plenty of of his team-mates have talked about how good a personality he’s within the group.
Are you able to see him coming again to Liverpool as a part of the first-team squad?
He appears to go from power to power and nothing appears to faze him.
Everybody at Boro might be hoping such a consideration isn’t made till the tip of the season, versus January when there’s a recall clause.
I’m biased in that I’d additionally love to look at Doak for one more six months, however even nonetheless, I’d say he may nonetheless do with common recreation time for the remainder of this season with a view to creating a choice in the summertime.
Proper now, he’d in all probability be a great deputy/backup to Mo Salah, however how useful that might be to his growth – the place he wouldn’t be taking part in as typically – is one thing Liverpool officers must weigh up.
If Boro have been to win promotion, I may see it being useful to all events for him to have one other season at Boro.
Perhaps that’s wishful considering! However there definitely wouldn’t really feel a necessity for Doak to play a second season at Championship stage.
• Thanks once more to Craig Johns for his perception into Doak’s mortgage at Middlesbrough to date. You may observe Craig on Twitter @craig_johns and the Gazette @GazetteBoro.
