The quick and the calm. A raw teenager and a veteran goalkeeper have had major roles in Scotland’s recent upturn in fortunes, according to former national team manager Craig Levein.
Injury robbed Ben Doak of a possible international debut at Euro 2024, while Craig Gordon failed to make the cut after fighting his way back to fitness.
Winger Doak, 19, has since played in all six Nations League group games, starting the last four, along with Gordon, who has re-established himself as the nation’s number one at the age of 41.
“My feeling is, just give him the ball,” said Levein of Doak, the Liverpool youngster currently on loan with Middlesbrough, who has set up two goals in this month’s wins over Croatia and Poland.
“Against Croatia at Hampden, when he got the ball, the whole thing just lifted up a level,” Levein told BBC Scotland. “The noise from the crowd was fantastic.
“You have to go back a long way to find somebody who’s as exciting as this lad is. He’s got searing pace and there’s something really intoxicating about that.
“That idea of just taking people on and crossing the ball, or cutting inside to shoot or setting stuff up for other people, it’s great to watch.
“He went past Josko Gvardiol like he was a two-bob defender. He’s a little bit special. He’s also got that lack of fear that young players bring and it becomes infectious when you see him enjoying himself.”
Doak has made just a handful of cameos for Liverpool since joining from Celtic in early 2022.
“You have to be able to to learn very quickly when you’re at a club that size, how to behave and to prepare yourself for high expectations,” said Levein.
“The fact he went to Liverpool, I think, is a big thing. He’s managed to get himself in the first team on occasions, now he’s at Middlesbrough which is a good choice. He needs regular football.
“Fingers crossed, everything continues in the way it’s going for him at the moment, because he’s a top class prospect – and the excitement for me always comes knowing that eight years from now he’s going to be much better than he is now.”
‘If I’m Angus Gunn, I’d be worried’
Gordon made his Scotland debut in 2004, the year before Doak was born.
Many thought his appearance as a substitute in the final warm-up game before the Euros would be his last; over and out on 75 caps.
But the Hearts captain, who has been through two long injury-enforced breaks in his career refused to rule out a comeback and kept clean sheets in the home matches against Portugal and Croatia.
“I still believe that he’s the best goalkeeper that Scotland has,” said Levein. “Having all that experience, he brings a calmness to the back line as well.
“If I’m Angus Gunn, I’d be a little bit worried about getting my place back. You know he’d be watching and seeing how well Craig’s done, with some brilliant saves.”
John Souttar was the player cut from the Euros squad along with Gordon and the Rangers defender has also had to endure more than his fair share of injury anguish.
But he too has bounced back from that disappointment and established himself as a first pick for Scotland boss Steve Clarke.
“John has always had great elegance, but his decision-making and his use of the ball are now better,” said Levein.
“He’s got good speed. Physically, he’s a unit now. He’s good in the air.
“I’m thrilled for him. He’s had three really bad Achilles injuries in the past and, coming back from that, all credit to him to get to the level he’s at.”