Former Celtic Academy star Ben Gannon Doak still to fulfil his potential | OneFootball

Young Ben Gannon Doak as he now likes to be known is fast becoming a regular fixture in the Scotland side, and showing the Celtic supporters ‘what could have been’ as he shines on the big stage internationally and down south in the all-star English Premier League.

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

The speedy winger who joined EPL highfliers Bournemouth in the summer from Liverpool, rose to stardom after a move to English giants Liverpool after making only a few first team appearances under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic.

Despite failing to make the grade at Anfield, young Ben still made an impression at international level, and is now trying to establish himself in a fairly decent Bournemouth side.

There was even talk of a loan move back to Celtic in the summer, but of course it was just nothing more than mere speculation, but the question has to be asked, would Ben have improved our side?

Ben Doak of Scotland shoots as Dominik Kotarski of Croatia makes a save during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Scotland and Croatia at Hampden Park on November 15, 2024. (Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images)

I’ll most likely be in the minority here when I say, no I don’t think he’s any better than we current have on our books.

Do you think Ben is any better than Sebastian Tounekti, Michel Ange Balikwisha or Daizen Maeda? No would be the honest answer, but don’t get wrong he does have great potential to be a superb player, but at this moment in time he’s not living up to his ‘superstar’ in the making status.

Young Ben clearly has the ability and desire, but it’s quite obvious to anyone who watched the last couple of Scotland games, that he badly needs to improve his end product. Perhaps that could be said of Sebastian Tounekti too and it will be interesting to see how Brendan Rodgers develops his game in the coming months.

Toulouse’s French defender #23 Moussa Diarra (L) and Toulouse’s Venezuelan midfielder #24 Cristian Casseres Junior (R) attempt to tackle Liverpool’s Scottish midfielder #50 Ben Doak (C) as he runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League Group E football match between Toulouse FC (TFC) and Liverpool at the Stadium de Toulouse, in Toulouse, southwestern France on November 9, 2023. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

You think that I’m wrong? Well take a second and visualise young Ben still in the hoops and advancing past opponents on the wing, only to cut in and provide no end product, just imagine the moans and groans. We’ve all heard them too many times.

Ange Balikwisha has been written off before he got going and it took the late assist against Motherwell for Daizen to score for him to feel part of things at Celtic. In the same game Daizen himself was getting pelters for his out-of-position performance which all changed with that dramatic late winner.

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)

In many ways Bournemouth is the perfect place for Doak to develop his game. It’s a small club with a fewer fans than the likes of Celtic or Liverpool. He may have made it at Celtic but we’ll never know as was only saw him in the Hoops for a few minutes in matches against Dundee United and theRangers, both of which Celtic won.

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