Ben Doak’s ‘elite level’ factor in leaving Celtic for Liverpool

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The Celtic Star

·11 October 2024

Ben Doak’s ‘elite level’ factor in leaving Celtic for Liverpool

Ben Doak has expressed playing at the ‘elite level’ was the main factor for his departure from Celtic in 2022…

Ben Doak and Greg Taylor of Celtic celebriate victory after the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at on February 02, 2022. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

The 18 year-old featured for the Hoops on two occasions, and was left unimpressed with his lack of senior minutes in Glasgow. Celtic received a training compensation fee of £600,000 from English Premier League giants Liverpool where he has made 10 first team appearances.

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Doak is currently on loan at Middlesbrough

Currently on loan at Middlesbrough in the English Championship, Doak has played five times for the Ironopolis. He completed a milestone on his debut for Michael Carrick’s side scoring his first ever senior goal in a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Meanwhile, regular football has resulted in Scotland call-up’s where Steve Clarke gave him his inaugural cap against Poland last month. Doak, who will be an integral part of Scotland squad’s in years to come is expected to feature in upcoming Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Portugal.

Ben Doak of Scotland during a training session at Lesser Hampden on October 08, 2024. Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Image

An elite level

Speaking to Daily Record, Doak expressed the reasons behind his decision making in leaving his boyhood club two years ago, “to be honest, I felt like that was the right move at the time to go down south and go and play and train at an elite level. I wasn’t really thinking about playing with Scotland at that point (when Doak was at Celtic).

“Everyone knows how good the Liverpool squad has been and how they are doing currently. They’re top of the league, so I didn’t see any cons to going there.”

Jack MacKenzie and Ben Doak of Scotland warm up during a training session at Lesser Hampden on October 08, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic lost Doak, Vata then Kelly

Celtic has a major issue just now of securing their youth players on lengthier contracts. Doak, was the first of many recent academy prospects to depart Celtic for England. Since then, Rocco Vata turned down a five-year deal in favour of a move to English Championship side Watford in the summer. Scottish midfielder Daniel Kelly was similar, exiting for Millwall in the summer.

Two Celtic Academy graduates who remained at the club are in Steve Clarke’s squad alongside Ben Doak. Both Anthony Ralston and James Forrest are expected to be called upon in what is a depleted side.

Celtic in the Thirties, Published by Celtic Star Books, 4/11/24. Image: The Celtic Star

Celtic in the Thirties

In other Celtic news, it’s great to report that Matt Corr’s new books Celtic in the Thirties are available to pre-order now and there’s a Q&A with Matt Corr on The Celtic Star which you can read below.

Conor Spence