“OHHH, super Ben Doak. He plays for Scotland, he runs the line. You’ll hear the Scotland sing as he’s charging down the wing. Assisting Dykes and Adams, we’ll sing this song all night.”
If you’ve not heard it, you soon will.
Doak is Scotland’s shining light[/caption]
It’s the song the Tartan Army are singing about their new teenage hero.
And the wee man from the Ayrshire town of Dalry loves it.
Doak, 19, has already played his way into the hearts of the country with his six performances for the national team. And the lyrics being chanted by fans have been given his seal of approval.
Liverpool winger Doak, on loan at Middlesbrough, has revealed he’s seen the now-viral clips on social media of supporters singing it in Warsaw ahead of the Nations League victory over Poland.
He said: “Yeah, I got sent it before the game, actually.
“It’s quite a good chant, I think anyway. It’s pretty decent. It’s lovely to hear all that, but I’m just focused totally on going into the game and doing what I can for the team.”
Scotland’s new teen sensation is determined to keep his feet on the ground despite the hysteria surrounding him.
It can’t be easy for someone of Doak’s age or experience.
Think about your son, grandson or nephew at 19, and how they would cope with the spotlight being on them.
That’s maybe why Steve Clarke is so eager to protect him.
But Doak doesn’t come across as someone in danger of letting the attention go to his head.
He’s a confident boy, sure, but there’s no arrogance or big headedness about the way he speaks or comes across off the pitch.
Doak’s just a kid itching to play football.
But while the Tartan Army were worried that Clarke could bench the 19-year-old on Monday night, he was just focused on doing whatever job was asked of him.
By time-up, having played 66 minutes, and after setting up John McGinn’s opener in yet another take-your-breath-away performance, he was thrilled with how it all unfolded.
Doak added: “I’m ready to play any game of football that I’m available for.
“I was just happy to see my name on the team sheet.
“It was good, although it was tough. It was a bit like a basketball game at times really, it was proper end-to-end stuff.
“Maybe that’s why I got taken off, I was getting a bit leggy.
Doak was hooked in the second half in Poland[/caption]
“The gaffer thought it was time he freshened things up, and it worked out well in the end. It’s a credit to everyone.
“We’ve had a few tough games in the group, and not really got the results that we maybe deserved.
“But I’m buzzing for me and all the lads to get three points.”
The way Doak sees it, the individual adulation he’s getting from supporters is great — but it’s more important he doesn’t lose sight of team ethic within the Scotland camp.
He said: “I figure that any time I get picked for the national team I’ll just go in there and play my football, and try to do my best.
“If I get a positive reaction out of it then that’s great, but it’s not really that important to me.
“I just need to go in and do my job and hope everyone else does theirs.”
Scotland skipper Andy Robertson is a huge influence on Doak.
He has taken him under his wing at Liverpool and really helped him settle into the Scotland camp too.
Doak was off the pitch by the time Robbo was heading home his last-gasp winner in Warsaw.
He added: “It was just brilliant to see.
“He’s got a good header on him, Robbo, hasn’t he?
“It was an amazing ending, just getting the result. And it was a great way to do it too.
The teenager with skipper Robertson at full-time[/caption]
“Robbo is someone who has been fantastic with me.
“He keeps me right, keeps me grounded, and looks after me around the place — on the pitch as well.
“It’s not just him, all the senior lads do it.
“They all look after the young lads brilliantly, so it really helps us all.
“But my plan is that I’ll just keep being myself and if people don’t like you then so what? It doesn’t really matter.
“It’s easy for young lads to get carried away, but that’s when it can all start to go wrong. So it’s better to just keep your feet on the ground.”
Doak, who has started eight of Boro’s last nine games since his move to team up with boss Michael Carrick, is heading back there with the aim of getting better and better, as the Championship outfit chase a Premier League dream.
He said: “For me, it’s just game by game. That’s all you can know how to do. That’s the best way to do it.
“If you start looking three or four games ahead you end up not performing as well as you could do in the next game.
“So it’s just game by game, and hopefully I can keep giving some good numbers when I play.”
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