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Doak provides ‘something different’ for Scotland, says Clarke – BBC Sport
Ben Doak offers Scotland “something a little bit different”, says head coach Steve Clarke after picking the Liverpool teenager for his provisional Euro 2024 squad.
The uncapped 18-year-old winger has not played since knee surgery in December but is part of a 28-man group that will be reduced to 26 prior to the tournament.
Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie is the other uncapped player to be included, while veteran Celtic attacker James Forrest and Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack have also been selected.
But Doak is perhaps the most eye-catching of those chosen.
“Ben has a lot of talent, he catches your eye,” said Clarke. “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 two names are cut from the squad on 7 June.
Clarke explained that the provisional squad provides “a bit more breathing space”, with Doak not the only player selected who is coming back from an injury.
Stuart Armstrong is currently sidelined at Southampton, Grant Hanley has barely featured this season and Jack has not played for Rangers since early March.
On the inclusion of the latter, Clarke said the midfielder has been “fit for last two or three weeks”, and that the 32-year-old adds experience and “deserves to be there”.
‘Fantastic finish’ earns Forrest recall
Forrest returns having not played for Scotland since the last Euros in the summer of 2021.
The winger, 32, was out of the picture at Celtic for a prolonged period, but has impressed with a late-season flourish.
“If ever there’s an example to young players on how to conduct yourself if things are not going well for you at your club, James epitomises that,” said Clarke.
“Train well, work well, keep your head down. Keep believing and you never know, maybe the head coach will pick you for your country again.
“He’s had a fantastic finish to the season. You’re looking and thinking: ‘Wow, James is back to where he was three or four years ago’.
“That was something I couldn’t overlook.”
‘Squad not always about who plays’
Clarke lost defender Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, midfielder Lewis Ferguson and attacker Jacob Brown to injuries.
And he admitted the increased squad size “probably made it more difficult” in terms of striking a balance.
“The squad is not always about who plays,” he explained. “The ones that don’t play or don’t get many minutes are just as big. They control the harmony of the group.
“It can be a big ask telling a player they will be away for four, five, maybe six weeks without many minutes.”
Aiming for a Scottish first
Scotland lost just once in qualifying as runners-up behind Spain, but were beaten in friendly matches against Netherlands and Northern Ireland in March.
There were also one-sided friendly defeats by England and France last year.
“It makes the tournament feel a little bit more real,” said Clarke, who will be up against hosts Germany as well as Switzerland and Hungary in Group A.
“Since March it’s been a bit of a drag. A lot of bad news, not much good news.
“I just want to get the boys together again and work towards the friendly matches and into the tournament, which I’m sure will take care of itself.
“If we play to the best of our abilities then we could be – could be – the first Scottish team to come out the group stages.
“That would be a magnificent achievement.”
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