Liverpool youngster Ben Doak became the youngest goalscorer in Scotland under-21 history when he found the back of the net this week, taking inspiration from Mo Salah.
Doak saw the back of the net seven minutes after coming off the bench on his debut on Thursday, helping the Scots Under-21s to a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland.
It was the latest goal for the 16-year-old in an impressive start to the season, breaking Billy Gilmour’s international record after following him from Scotland to England.
A £600,000 move to Liverpool this summer has given Doak the opportunity to prove himself at a higher level, and he is already taking advice from afar as he watches Salah on and off the pitch.
“Obviously I admire Mo Salah,” he told the Glasgow Times.
“Even if he’s not having the best of games, he always shows up with a goal. His numbers are incredible and speak for themselves.
“I scored against Napoli in the Youth League. It helps that I did really well in the first two games. I have all the numbers to back that up too.
“Even if I’m not having a good game, I can remember what I did earlier in the season to keep my confidence.”
Interestingly, Doak added: “I haven’t seen the first team too often, but I think it’s deliberate and for you to want to get there.
“If I saw them all the time it wouldn’t be normal. It should be a privilege to be there.”
There is real confidence in Doak’s game, and that shines through when he speaks about his performances, while his comments about being kept away from the first-team setup at Kirkby show a reluctance to overexpose him from Liverpool’s coaching staff.
At just 16, there is still a long way to go, even though the winger has already made his senior debut with Celtic, and time at his new club has so far been spent with the under-18s.
It’s certainly helpful that he’s started running, but Doak explained how he’s looking to improve his game beyond goals and assists.
“Six months ago you would never have found me defending anything,” he continued.
“And that’s the difference between making him a first-team player and not a youth player.
“I’m trying to turn my entire game into a strength.”
On his decision to join Liverpool, the Scot said: “I was just trying to think of the best way forward to improve as a football player.
“But once I got down to Liverpool and saw the standards and the facilities, it is of the highest standard.
“There is nothing better than where I am right now. I’m in the best place.”
