Liverpool youngster Ben Doak has been included in Scotland’s provisional Euro 2024 squad despite not having played at any level since sustaining an injury in December.
Doak has not featured since undergoing surgery at the end of 2023 on a serious knee injury sustained during a 2-1 win over Chelsea U21s.
However, the 18-year-old returned to full training in the final weeks of the season and was part of Jurgen Klopp’s farewell ceremony at Anfield on Sunday.
Despite his injury, it has been an impressive campaign for Doak, who made five appearances for Liverpool’s first team to take his total to 10.
His development has now been recognized by Scotland manager Steve Clarke, who has included the teenager in his provisional 28-man squad in preparation for Euro 2024.
Your temporary number of 28 people @EURO2024 Scotland squad ???????
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— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 22, 2024
Scotland will play friendlies against Gibraltar (June 3) and Finland (June 7) before heading to Germany for the tournament, with Clarke due to have two players out of his squad.
Doak is among the five forwards called up, along with the much more established quartet of James Forrest, Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland.
It suggests that while he is one of only two uncapped players in Clarke’s squad, it is not a formality that he and Ross McCrorie will eventually be left out.
There is a feeling that Doak could be included as a wild card for Scotland when they head to Germany, especially after injuries to right-backs Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson.
Andy Robertson is the second Liverpool player included, as Scotland captain, taking the club’s total number of call-ups for the tournament to 12 so far.
Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones were also called up for the first time along with England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.
Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo were provisional Netherlands squads, while Dominik Soboszlai (Hungary), Diogo Jota (Portugal) and Ibrahima Konate (France) were also included.
Doak’s experience for Scotland has so far been limited to the U21s, for whom he has made seven appearances.
