Ally McCoist says player who left Celtic is now like Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham

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Celtic’s recruitment has been on point for many years now.

Yes, there was a period last season when the Celtic board came under fire and fans were questioning the transfer strategies.

But it proved that patience was needed because, now that Brendan Rodgers has become comfortable in the Parkhead hotseat again, everything is going pretty well, on the domestic scene and the Champions League stage.

From Nicolas Kuhn’s rise to the consistent performances of Alistair Johnston, the powers that be haven’t got much wrong and it’s a very good sign for the future.

But Celtic’s outgoings have also been as good as their incomings, in regards to the fee the club secures and ensure that the void is filled.

Matt O’Riley joining Brighton in the summer is an example, Celtic didn’t want to let him go, but they still got the record-breaking fee for the playmaker.

But then there is one that got away…

Ally McCoist compares Ben Doak to Jude Bellingham

Celtic’s former youth product Ben Doak is ripping it up for Scotland and fans will be proud to see him shining on such a huge stage.

Ange Postecoglou handed the all-action winger a few starts, but Doak wanted to join Liverpool after an opportunity was put on the table.

It was a brave move by the 19-year-old and now you have pundits like Ally McCoist comparing him to Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham.

The former Scotland striker stated that Doak has been ‘outstanding’ for his country, and like Bellingham, he plays with ‘freedom’, as he told talkSPORT.

“It has worked both ways,” said McCoist about Doak’s loan spell in the Championship. “He has benefited, plus the national team have benefited like you have no idea.

“Back in the Euros, we were attempting to get any level of width from Anthony Ralston on the right-hand side. I think it was Robbo on the left-hand side. As good as they are, and they are good, going forward it’s just a different level if you have a winger, an out-and-out player, who has something different. Those guys would get forward and put a delivery in, but we now have somebody. He has been the real success story, for me in the last few games.

“He, without getting carried away and we do get carried away. We don’t want to put too much pressure, particularly on the young lads. But he has been fabulous. Pace. Outstanding potential. I am not going to compare him to Jude Bellingham, but I am comparing him to Jude Bellingham in the sense that he plays with a freedom. When Bellingham first come onto the scene, for a young man, he was fearless and he looked like he was loving everything about it. And Ben Doak seems to be in that place. Completely different players. The comparison I am making is that there is a freshness about them.

Doak’s stats for Scotland against Poland

It was a crucial game for Steve Clarke’s side and their hopes of keeping their UEFA Nations League hopes alive.

Nothing but a win was needed and the players certainly delivered, with captain Andy Robertson scoring a stoppage-time winner.

After Doak’s heroics against Croatia, he was at it again, this time in Warsaw, including building a strong partnership on the right-hand side with Celtic’s Anthony Ralston.

Either way, in such a pressure game, WhoScored rated Doak’s performance at 7.32.