Ben Doak makes his EPL debut for Liverpool

Twelve months ago Ben Doak was named as a substitute as a Celtic squad hammered by self isolation beat St Johnstone 3-1.

Afterwards the winter break kicked in, Doak got off the bench at home to Dundee United and in the Glasgow derby but the 16-year-old had already decided that he would be moving to Liverpool.

Joey Pearson got off the bench at St Johnstone but hasn’t been seen again in the first team squad, 12 months down the line it is very hard to see a route into the Celtic first team for the former Scunthorpe striker.

87′ – Ben Doak replaces Darwin Nunez.

[1-3]#AVLLIV

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2022

Tonight at Villa Park, Doak came off the bench, looked at home in a side that included Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah, among the best in the world in their positions.

Although it was the 85^th minute that he came on there was time for one trademark run down the right flank from the young Scottish substitute, forcing a nervous Villa defender into conceding a corner. Liverpool won the match 3-1.

The team mates that Doak left behind are playing in the Lowland League, against sides like Stirling Uni, Caledonian Braves and Cumbernauld Colts.

With home matches played on the plastic of Airdrie Celtic really need to find a new way to offer Academy prospects a pathway to first team football.