Andy Robertson makes 'big' prediction about Liverpool talent as word of warning issued

Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp always tried to bring youth products into the first team throughout his near-nine-year reign as manager. We saw the German give first-team debuts to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and last season saw Jarell Quansah burst onto the scene without looking out of place.

Another young talent is Scottish forward Ben Doak. Signed from Celtic as a 16-year-old, Doak only had to wait eight months to make his debut in the first team for the Reds, coming on as a late substitute in a Carabao Cup game against Derby County.

Doak has shown flashes of what he can do ever since, and would've featured more in the season just gone had it not been for a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign just before Christmas. Now 18, Doak has been called up to Scotland's provisional squad for Euro 2024, despite not kicking a ball for Liverpool in the calendar year.

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Liverpool's other Scotland international, Andy Robertson, has urged the media not to overhype Doak, and to give him time to develop at is own pace in an interview with the BBC. "He’s got a bright future ahead of him," Robertson said.

"But it’s also important that we protect him and we put our arm around him and help him along the way, because he’s just starting his journey and we know what that’s like. It’s important people don’t get overhyped by him and let him grow and let him improve.

"If we do that then I believe that he can be a big player for us in this tournament. But he’ll be a big player for us for 10, 15 years to come as well."

Scotland boss Steve Clarke explained (via the BBC) why he decided to call Doak up to the squad despite his lack of club football, saying: "Ben has a lot of talent, he catches your eye. Pace is something we haven't got in abundance. He's something a little bit different.

"I've never had the chance to work closely with Ben. It just seemed like the right opportunity to put him in, with the squad going up to 26 from 23. We'll have a look at Ben and see how he does."

Scotland will play friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland before Clarke is due to confirm his squad for the tournament. By the time the competition kicks off, with Scotland facing host Germany on the opening night, two names will have been cut from the list.

Liverpool.com says: Robertson is right. Doak is still only a teenager and he needs to be allowed to develop slowly and not have the media spotlight on him, as can often be the case with young talented players. Doak may be eventually cut from Clarke's squad, but the experience will have done him good, and hopefully he can feature regularly for Liverpool next season.