Middlesbrough Coach Carrick Describes Doak’s Form as ‘Alright’

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick, with characteristic understatement, stated that Liverpool loanee Ben Doak is performing “alright” after Doak delivered another impressive display. Doak accumulated six assists across eight matches for both his club and national team during November. Doak was instrumental in Middlesbrough’s 3-1 victory over Hull City, setting up both of Tommy Conway’s goals, a result that elevated the team to fifth place in the Championship. November proved to be an exceptional month for the 19-year-old, who contributed five assists for his club and one for Scotland in two strong performances during their Nations League wins against Croatia and Poland. Middlesbrough manager Carrick reiterated, “He’s doing alright, he’s doing alright.” Throughout the afternoon, Doak presented a significant challenge for the Tigers, not only providing assists but also forcing saves from goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and creating additional scoring opportunities. The teenager has emerged as a crucial component in one of the division’s most potent attacks, with only Norwich City having scored more than Middlesbrough’s 32 goals. For Carrick, the focus is on enabling Doak’s talent to flourish within the squad. He informed BBC Sport, “It’s clear for everyone to see the talent that he’s got and the threat that he has. He’s a different threat to most. He’s quite direct and not so much loads of tricks and skills, but he’s got that attribute to be low with his centre of gravity, he’s direct and gets in that position an awful lot.” Carrick added, “Credit to the boys for supplying him and using him and trying to bring out the best of him. He certainly fits the system really well and it’s up to us to keep pushing him and developing him and trying to make him better.”