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Ben Doak “can’t wait to get back kicking the ball” after returning to full training following knee surgery in December as he eyes a place at Euro 2024 with Scotland.
Doak has not played a minute of football since undergoing surgery to repair his MCL late last year, but is part of Scotland’s provisional squad for Euro 2024.
It underlines the belief in the 18-year-old’s ability as a potential game-changer at the tournament in Germany, although his place in the final group is not yet guaranteed.
He will first hope to make an impact in friendlies against Gibraltar (Monday) and Finland (Friday), which will mark his return from a long-term injury.
Speaking in an interview with the Scottish national team’s YouTube channel, Doak gave an insight into his recovery.
“I was training alone for a while, just desperate to get back, but the physio just told me ‘Look, you’re not ready, don’t worry, you’ll come in when we think you’re in your best shape,'” he explained.
“I went back to training last week of the season, so I’ve been training for maybe two or three weeks and I’m feeling great. I can’t wait to get back shooting the ball.”
Doak added: “Before I got injured, I played a lot of games (for the first team), I had my first starts.
“It was quite difficult for young players to get into the team at that time.
“Obviously as the season went on, all the young lads at Liverpool started to do well, getting the last goal here and there, so it was hard to see that.
“But when I got injured, I just put (the euros) in the back of my head, I didn’t expect to get back in shape in time. But here I am!”
The teenager’s chances of making the final squad received a bittersweet boost on Saturday when striker Lyndon Dykes was ruled out of the Euros after picking up an injury in training.
Manager Steve Clarke now has just one player short of the 27 currently training, although there is also a chance U21 striker Tommy Conway could be called up.
Doak looks set to make the plane to Germany after all and believes he has gained vital experience in his five appearances for Liverpool in the campaign just gone.
“Being in the Europa League really helped us,” he reflected.
“I started in the League Cup, I did decently there, then two or three Europa League games, I was decent in them.
“There were one or two when I was quite OK, but it was good to learn what it’s like to play away in Europe.
“It’s a lot harder than you think, but it will only improve you as a player anyway. It was a really good experience and it was good to have a few games under my belt.”
The deadline for nations to submit their final squads for Euro 2024 is June 7.
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