Man Utd legend's verdict speaks volumes as Liverpool wonderkid Ben Doak 'justifies the hype'

"Livewire" Ben Doak has shown no shortage of self-belief in the early days of his loan stint at Middlesbrough, with fans excited about

Doak, 18, joined the Championship club on a season-long loan in August and has on Teeside in five starts for Michael Carrick's team. The Scottish winger has helping to spark an upturn in fortunes for Carrick's men after a sluggish start to the season.

when the 16-year-old emerged at Celtic, and he made 10 first-team appearances under Jurgen Klopp over the past two seasons. But with new manager Arne Slot taking charge, a rejigged hierarchy at Anfield decided the time had come for Doak to get more exposure to senior football.

To get the lowdown on start to life at the Riverside Stadium, Liverpool.com spoke to Craig Johns, the Middlesbrough reporter for Gazette Live. You can for more updates on Doak's performances this season.

What have been your early impressions of Ben Doak at Middlesbrough?

Doak has quickly made a big impression at Middlesbrough and it's no coincidence that they won the first two games he started and really ought to have won the third at Watford too, having dominated for three-quarters of that game and collapsing only after he'd come off.

Boro's start to the season had been fraught with frustrations in attack as they struggled to break teams down and finish off big chances. In for Boro's clash with Stoke, he made an instant impact with his direct style and pace to beat a man, which in turn forced other defenders out of position, creating space for other Boro players. He's proving a real livewire with plenty of self-belief.

What strengths and weaknesses has he displayed so far?

His strengths are undoubtedly his dribbling ability and positivity. Nine times out of ten, he gets the ball wide, with Boro notably looking for that switch early to give him the best possible opportunity to face a full-back up one-on-one, and he looks to beat him.

Ken Sema of Watford is the first full-back he's come up against in the Championship who could match him for pace, but it didn't stop Doak from trying and trying again. Tom Cleverley noted after the game they'd paid specific attention to him, which is something he might have to start getting used to.

As far as a weakness is concerned, there have been times, not always, but times when his final ball hasn't been great. It's potentially a reminder that he is still a raw 18-year-old with natural room for growth, while it's only fair to also remember that the Stoke game was his first start since his injury last December.

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What has manager Michael Carrick had to say about him so far?

Michael Carrick was quite influential in the signing by all accounts and effectively pushed for Boro to bring him in once it became apparent Liverpool were going to let him leave.

There have been nothing but positive things from Carrick on Doak so far as he discussed the impact he's had at Boro, both on and off the pitch. Notably asked about his self-belief that many keep referencing, Carrick simply retorted: "And so he should, he's a terrific player."

How have fans responded to his performances?

Really positively. Naturally, frustrations were starting to grow before Doak's first start at Boro's attacking limitations and the mood was particularly low before that Stoke game because of the defeat to rivals Sunderland beforehand.

While Riley McGree's return from injury has also been influential in the improved performances over the last three games, fans can also see how important Doak has been to that. There's a lot of excitement about him and how much he can help Boro this season, provided he stays fit.

What role do you expect him to play in the squad as the season progresses?

Very much a key player. Boro do have many attacking options, and particularly in the right side of their attack. But Doak has been brought in on loan for a reason and is already justifying the hype.

The Championship season can be a long, arduous slog and as well as many midweek games that might sometimes require a bit of tinkering to freshen things up, Boro are also covered for potential dips in form that would be usually expected of any teenage player.

However, in such a short space of time, Doak has moved himself into pole position to be starting games on the right side of Boro's attack and it's his place to lose now.

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How have previous loan signings from Premier League clubs fared at Middlesbrough? Can Liverpool fans expect him to be handled well this season?

Generally speaking, Boro have been trying to move away from this kind of loan signing where there is effectively little to no prospect of any longer-term deal at the end of it. They've proven flexible in that approach for the right signing, though, and it says a lot about how they feel about Doak that they have bent that rule for him, despite already signing a few attackers in the summer to effectively give themselves ample options without him.

Of the loan deals that best mirror this one, Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey both spent six successful months at Boro in 2023 and were such key players for Boro. Both spoke about how much they were made to feel part of things at the club, and how much they developed as players from the coaching of Carrick and his backroom staff.

Though neither returned to Villa to play for the club, both were ultimately sold after their loan spells for a combined total of just under £40m. I don't expect Liverpool will be considering selling Doak anytime soon, but the example highlights the upward trajectory that both players went on while at Boro.