Ben Doak: Is 19-year-old winger Scottish football's new superstar after outstanding displays vs Croatia and Poland?

Following the letdown of the Euros, Scotland supporters were eager for a change, particularly in their offensive play. That change has come with the emergence of Ben Doak.

During last summer in Germany, Scotland energized the crowd, but they struggled to make a significant impact on the field. They managed to find the net only twice before being eliminated from the group stage, with one of those being an own goal. The team heavily depended on their key player, John McGinn, for both scoring and generating chances.

Steve Clarke seems to have discovered the solution he's been looking for. Over the last week, McGinn scored twice during crucial moments for Scotland, with both goals set up effortlessly by 19-year-old Doak. This seems to mark a significant advancement for the team.

On Monday night in Warsaw, Doak and McGinn worked together effectively within just three minutes, but Poland's troubles didn't stop there. Just four minutes later, Doak was on the attack again, coming close to setting up another goal for Lyndon Dykes.

Doak and Dykes teamed up again later in the half but couldn't convert another opportunity. Shortly after, Doak attempted a shot that was saved by Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski. The young winger began to show signs of fatigue in the second half and was eventually substituted, but he exited the game still holding a strong reputation.

"He's a real challenge for defenders with his straightforward approach," commented manager Steve Clarke following the victory against Poland. "As a former full-back, I know that facing a winger who attacks like he does can be tough. He adds a unique element to our team."

"I first noticed him as a young player at Celtic. What really stood out to me was his ability to create opportunities—whether it was making a pass, dribbling past defenders, or taking a shot," Steven Naismith, the former Scotland forward, shared with Sky Sports News on Tuesday.

"In the past two matches, we've witnessed that. That's also why he has so many assists. However, his overall performance remains at an elite level."

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However, one could say that Doak's performance last Friday night at Hampden Park was even more remarkable. This was largely because of the significant trouble he caused for the Croatian left-back, Josko Gvardiol.

The left-back from Manchester City had a tough time handling the skilled young winger throughout the match. One particular moment, where he was caught off guard by a quick spin and turn, even went viral online.

It wrapped up with Doak facing off against Gvardiol one last time before, similar to what happened in Poland three days later, delivering a pass for McGinn to find the net. Not bad for a player who just celebrated his 19th birthday last week.

"Once I step onto the field, I don't pay attention to names or faces," Doak mentioned following the match against Croatia. "All I see is another team looking to defeat us, and our goal is to outplay them. When I have the ball, I don’t focus on who’s opposing me; it’s just about the uniform they’re wearing."

This season, Doak has made it his signature move to grab the ball and charge at defenders. He’s also making a strong impact at the club level in this aspect.

Middlesbrough's Doak, who is on loan from Liverpool, has dribbled the ball into the opponent's penalty area more times than all players except for Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid and Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

It's important to note that behind that statistic is the fact that Doak has played 300 minutes less than Vinicius and Barcola this season. No other player in Europe is as consistently effective at taking the ball, driving it forward, and creating opportunities as this gifted young Scottish player.

Interestingly, Doak is ranked higher than Liverpool's winger Mohamed Salah on this list, raising the question of whether the next step in the Scottish winger's development is joining Arne Slot's main squad—especially considering the uncertainty surrounding Salah's future at Anfield.

One individual who could contribute to that progress is Andy Robertson, the Scotland captain and a player for Liverpool. He frequently engages with Doaky due to their shared Liverpool ties.

"I really enjoy working closely with him and pushing him to reach his full potential," Robertson said prior to the match against Poland.

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"The little guy is making amazing progress and it's wonderful to witness. He has a promising future in front of him."

Doak's future is looking so promising that he may eventually take McGinn's place as Scotland's key player. People are already speculating about how the Euros last summer might have turned out differently if Doak hadn’t had to withdraw from the preliminary Scotland squad because of an injury.

Doak thrives when he has the ball and room to make a move. He has the potential to achieve great things in his career ahead.