Former Celtic defender Jackie McNamara has admitted that the club couldn’t have done anything more to keep Ben Doak at the club as the former fullback is his agent.
Doak made the switch to Premier League giants Liverpool in April having made a couple of first team appearances under Ange Postecoglou.
His first appearance came from off the bench against Dundee United in late January before also getting some gametime in the derby game a few days later in which Celtic mauled Rangers 3-0.
He continues to make headlines in English football having had a very impressive start to life at the Reds which was rewarded with a senior debut off the bench in the EFL Cup as well as a spot on the bench in the Premier League before the World Cup break. He has also earned praise in recent days for his cameo appearance against AC Milan in a friendly.
The 17-year-old wonderkid is now being linked to a loan move to Premier League side Nottingham Forest in January as he looks to further his development.
It was a blow to lose the youngster but Celtic really couldn’t have done anything more to keep ahold of him as McNamara revealed that he had already made up his mind.
“In fairness, I thought the Old Firm game might have swung it,” said Jackie McNamara speaking to the BBC.
“Because my whole thing was, show the kid that you’re going to keep him, show him that he’s not behind six or seven other players. He doesn’t want to play against Civil Service Strollers in the B team.
“But for the Old Firm game he was getting bombarded for tickets, for this, for that, down where he lived in Ayrshire. He turned his phone off. You forget he was only 16. I asked what he was thinking and he just didn’t want to stay.
“When Ben went down to visit Liverpool, Klopp said, ‘Ah Ben, I’ve seen your stuff.’ Straight away he was made to feel really welcome.”
He looks as though he has all the attributes to be a top player and is definitely making the right steps.
