Darren O’Dea has offered a rare insight into Ben Gannon-Doak’s early days at Celtic, lifting the lid on what it was like working with a player who stood out from the moment he stepped onto the pitch.

O’Dea, who worked closely with Gannon-Doak during his time in the academy setup, described a player who didn’t need shaped or moulded in the traditional sense. Instead, the challenge for coaches was knowing when to step in and when to leave him alone.


Gannnon-Doak made his first-team debut at just 16 under Ange Postecoglou, but even before that, there was a growing sense inside Lennoxtown that he was ahead of his age group. His pace, direct running and willingness to take risks marked him out early.

That created a different kind of situation for staff. Rather than pushing a player up step by step, there was a need to control the pace of his progress while still giving him room to develop in matches and training.

O’Dea said: (The Margins), “So he’s what you call a generational talent.

“There’s no coach – certainly not me – that’s going to turn around and say, ‘coach that.’ He just had it.

“There are two parts of it, taking care of it and managing his expectations, because he’s in a rush. He did it pretty quickly.

“He was one you just watched, and you just knew.

“Ben Doak thought he was getting held back at times and he made his debut at 16.

“Do you know what I mean? But that’s the mentality of him. And he’s probably right. He probably was good enough when he was 15.

“He was one you just watched. And the very few of, I can only think in Celtic’s kind of history, three or four, I could think of on top of my head, but he was one you just knew. So it’s actually becomes a responsibility to, to take care of him.”

O’Dea’s comments show the tightrope Celtic were walking in Gannon-Doak’s final months at the club. He was already pushing towards the first team, but decisions around minutes, exposure and whether he was physically ready seemed to hold things back.

For a winger who relies on quick feet and beating a man, the level he plays at is everything. If it’s too easy, he won’t improve. If it’s too big a step too soon, he can get lost in games and stop taking risks.

Gannon-Doak’s impatience comes through clearly. That mindset is often what drives young players on, but it also means they won’t hang about if they feel stalled.

Celtic gave him his debut at 16, but the next step never really followed. Without that steady run or clear pathway, it left space for Liverpool to step in and take him away.


O’Dea’s view from inside the academy puts the spotlight on how that was handled. When a player looks ready earlier than most, holding him back can do more harm than good.

Celtic had someone who looked capable of stepping up sooner, but couldn’t quite make it work within their own system. Once that gap opened up between player and club, it was always going to be hard to close.