Andy Walker reacts to claim Ben Doak ‘regrets’ leaving Celtic for Liverpool

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Andy Walker says he can ‘understand’ Ben Doak’s call to leave Celtic for Liverpool in 2022.

It was suggested by Stephen McGinn that there might be a hint of ‘regret’ from the winger that he didn’t stay on at Celtic given the spotlight he now finds himself in.

Well, it was pointed out by Andy Walker that ‘Celtic are in the Champions League and Liverpool aren’t’, as he told Go Radio.

So, from a quality standpoint, if Ben Doak was still at the club, then there is no higher level of football to put on his table than the Champions League.

But, of course, there is more to that, with finances and the Premier League itself playing a huge, huge part.

Whilst Celtic are one of Britain’s biggest clubs, unfortunately, the league itself doesn’t have the financial power to elevate the team to even higher levels.

That’s why players like Ben Doak, now pushing for a senior start for Scotland, head for the exit door before they can even make a dent in the senior team.

Ben Doak from Celtic to Liverpool

“Celtic are in the Champions League, Liverpool aren’t,” said Walker. “He has gone to a bigger and richer league. A better quality of player. He is playing under an elite manager, who does seem to believe in him.

“I think he will get some more game time between now and the end of the season. You can see what it meant to Mo Salah when he went off. Was it Chelsea, the first game of the season? He wasn’t happy to see Ben Doak coming on.

“I understand the attraction of going to England for the level of competition, nevermind the money, but that platform, it’s special.”

Ben Doak at Euro 2024

There have been calls for the 17-year-old to be pushed into the senior spotlight by Steve Clarke, with qualification for Euro 2024 edging ever closer for Scotland.

Minutes for Liverpool. First goal for Scotland U21s. You would imagine that he isn’t far off the senior set-up now.

If he continues in his current ways, then there is every chance he will be part of Scotland’s squad that travels to Germany for Euro 2024 next summer.