Watch: Celtic youngster Ben Doak's brilliant run and cross for Scotland youth side

By Euan Davidson

October 28, 2021

About a month ago, you might recall Celtic fans raved about Academy youngster Ben Doak and his performances for Scotland.

Doak, who started for Celtic U18 against Partick Thistle in a SFA Youth Cup win [Celtic FC], has been a name to watch this season. A winger with backs of tricks, he’s been setting up goals for Scotland youth sides with unerring efficiency in 21-22.

And he’s at it again, at just 15 years of age. Yesterday, against Northern Ireland U18s, Doak took the ball, beat two players, nearly lost it, retrieved it, then delivered a brilliant, mile-high cross that was finished off to make it 2-2.

It’s another highlight for the Celtic youngster, who has been impressing fans and coaches alike with his performances. Both for club and country.

Via the Celtic Youth and Loan Highlights account, here’s the move and goal:

That’s pretty considerable technique from Doak. As the commentator points out, he went so fast he nearly lost it. Yet, in a split-second, he composes himself, brings it back under control and delivers a looped cross.

Those kinds of deliveries can be extremely hard to defend. So it proved.

That wasn’t all, though. Doak’s intense pressing helped Scotland for their first goal, and he was a constant threat on the right.

Not to put any pressure on the young lad, but his development so far has been extremely noteworthy. He was named Player of the Tournament in the Actavo Cup in 2018 [Celtic FC Academy], and has been adding to his game readily since then.

Celtic Academy and Scotland youngster Ben Doak, with the right coaching, could be a very interesting player

Something of a reverse Adam Montgomery, Doak started nominally as a defender. But his impact further up the pitch is notable.

Modern wide players, seemingly, are trained to be used at both ends of the pitch. Certainly, dribbling and technique are prioritised, but being able to put a tackle in and keep a defensive line is also important.

Again, we’ve seen that with Montgomery, albeit in reverse. In the past, Jeremie Frimpong showed those traits. Juranovic and Ralston have been effective in similar ways for the first-team.

With the right guidance and coaching, Doak really could blossom. With the likes of Ralston and Juranovic, as well as the experience of former Celtic youngster James Forrest, there are considerable resources for him to use at the club.

It’s very early days though, and absolutely no pressure needs to be put on the lad.

What we will say, though, is that he’s continuing to impress at international youth level, and that’s no bad thing at all.

Read more: Exclusive: Celtic legend Jackie McNamara has “no issues” with Juranovic at left-back