SPFL head scout’s ‘regret’ at losing a ‘mini-Mark Hughes’ to Celtic, he scored goals for fun

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Celtic have a number of young players at the club looking to make their name at Parkhead.

Celtic’s academy has produced a plethora of players who have decided to move onto pastures new after failing to progress into the Hoops first-team.

Fans have watched with frustration as the likes of Rocco Vata left Celtic for the riches of English football but the one name that still stings is that of Ben Doak.

However, it’s not just the Parkhead supporters who look at Doak leaving Celtic for Liverpool as the man who unearthed the Scotland international reveals his ‘regret’ at losing him to the Hoops.

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Ben Doak signing for Celtic is ‘the ultimate one that got away’ from Ayr United

Ayr United head scout Ray Pattison was the man who discovered Ben Doak and says he regrets the day he lost the talented player to Celtic.

Pattison told The Sunday Post [print edition page 71], “For us, Ben will always be the ultimate one that got away. I spotted him when he was only nine and playing for Dalry Boys Club.

“I’d had word they were a decent side so went to see them playing a couple of times. They were good but, in particular, they had this lad up front who stuck out.

“He reminded me of a wee mini-Mark Hughes, you could kick him up and pull him apart, but he still bounced back and scored goals.

“So, we took him and got him playing for us. “We didn’t sign them that early, would have waited until he was maybe 11.

“We were to regret that because, working along with Billy Alexander, one of our coaches, he did really well.

“He was scoring goals for fun and Celtic picked up on it through the scouts, who are always around.

“So, we only had him for about four months. Four months before they picked him up.”

Ben Doak’s post-Celtic exit career at Liverpool and Middlesbrough

Doak has had limited game time at Liverpool but the former Celtic winger has enjoyed a prolific spell at Middlesbrough on loan.

Doak was highly regarded at Celtic but he has flourished since he left the club back in 2022.

So with that in mind, here is how the youngster’s career has panned out since Doak’s big move from Celtic to Liverpool.