'Give it to Gannon-Doak' advice for World Cup-chasing Scot as Hibs ace draws on shared Boro experience
How £25 million wide man left Barlaser impressed during loan spell
Scotland’s World Cup hopefuls have been given some simple advice on the best way to navigate their crucial qualifying doubleheader – give the ball to Ben Gannon-Doak and let him fly. Steve Clarke’s men take on Greece in Athens on Saturday night and Denmark at Hampden next Tuesday, with a place in next summer’s finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA on the line.
Liverpool kid sealed big-money move to Bournemouth in summer
Gannon-Doak is expected to start both games, with the former Liverpool prospect – now at Bournemouth after a £25 million summer transfer – bringing world-class pace and trickery to the wide areas of Clarke’s line-up. And the youngster, still just 19, has been backed to shine on the biggest stage.
Middlesbrough midfielder Dan Barlaser, currently impressing on loan with Hibs, played with Gannon-Doak last season. It’s fair to say the Englishman enjoyed the experience.
“Yeah, it was easy playing with him, just give him the ball!” said Barlaser, the former England Under-18 international adding: “He was rapid wasn't he? I gave him the ball to feet or played him into space and he did the rest, so yeah he was really good.
“I think with youngsters like that they're just so confident and, just like I said, his pace, he's one of the fastest people I've played with. So he can use his pace very well
“Obviously the move to Bournemouth, I think it suits him the way that he played. Hopefully he can do very well.”
Aware that the entire Scottish nation is banking on Gannon-Doak becoming a shining star for the national team, Barlaser said he was confident in the kid continuing to develop. As long as he avoids the pitfalls of so many a lightning-fast player down the years.
“Yeah definitely - if he stays fit,” he said, adding: He had quite a bad muscle injury when he was at Middlesbrough, I think.
“You know people who are that fast, they do tend to have more injuries like that. But if he stays fit I think he could do very well.”