These days, every teenager-filled home that experiences an interruption to the main water supply is usually received with a shrug of the shoulders. On the other hand, an erratic Wi-Fi signal usually elicits a more animated response. If you didn’t have access to social media, you could believe that Western civilization is in danger.

Ben Doak was born into a new millennium, thus his early years were like any other. It felt as normal to him to switch between different online sites as breathing—or, in his case, abandoning supporters.

Ben Doak relies on his fellow pros for feedback rather than social media

Doak, far left, with Scotland team-mates ahead of Nations League double header

The Middlesbrough loanee feels he has fitted in well with the Scotland squad

But the happiness that came with a regular flirtation with the virtual world would not last forever for the young Dalry boy.

After making his Liverpool debut against Derby two years ago, the former Celtic winger was the talk of the red half of Merseyside. However, he quickly found out that the praises of nameless computer warriors are not always as profuse as they seem.

The 18-year-old admitted, “It was easy to fall into looking at social media and getting a bit too carried away when I first started playing games for Liverpool.”

I realized for the first time that there was just one game in which I wasn’t excellent, good, or terrible. You log onto social media as soon as possible and see that everyone is criticizing you. It dawned on me then that they aren’t your friends. They will first exalt you before striking you with equal vigor.

His response to this very contemporary problem implies that he has a mature mind resting on his youthful shoulders.

“I simply don’t look,” he murmured. It’s simply simpler, to be honest. Reading about everything, both good and terrible, gets tiresome.

“What’s the purpose?” Within the building with me are the knowledgeable individuals. I’ll go to them if I want to hear any feedback. I refuse to use social media.

Doak has swiftly discovered that it is foolish to search for encouraging affirmations in a cesspool.

The only views that matter are those of his management and teammates. And in his jotter, all he has so far are gold stars.

As per Jurgen Klopp, he possesses the X-Factor. If he hadn’t had an unfortunate injury, Steve Clarke would have launched him right into the European competition. His manager while on loan at Middlesbrough this season, Michael Carrick, is a fully subscribed member of his fan club.

Even if Klopp is no longer present in the building, the player still remembers the German’s initial words of wisdom.

“Just go have fun when I’m on the pitch,” Doak recalled. Simply enjoy yourself and go. That seems like the simplest approach and the simplest method to play well. It is not possible for you to be thinking, “Oh, this game, there’s a big crowd.” You will automatically play well if you go out and just have fun.

Considering how frequently players these days are over-coached, Doak’s uniqueness stands out. You kind of expect burn marks on the grass under his feet because of his off-target gait.

The fact that Clarke, a manager not usually inclined toward bold choices, intended to unleash him in Germany prior to destiny becoming involved, told it all about his abilities.

Doak recollected, “It was actually weird because I had just started training that week and I hadn’t played from December until May.”

“I’m excited about this call-up, I’m going to go away and train, and I might make my debut at the Euros.”

Doak had one of the best mentors ever at Liverpool in former Anfield boss Klopp

The youngster has also thanked Scotland boss Clarke for showing faith in him

Boro boss Michael Carrick is the latest manager to see huge potential in teenager Doak

Due to a mid-season knee injury that limited his playing time, he was susceptible to the muscular problem that ultimately cost him his spot. It made for a summer that wasn’t what he had planned.

“I was watching the opening Euro match between Germany and Scotland at home with my family,” he remarked.

It turned out to be a bit of a difficult night after I went out to watch the Hungary game with my friends. We all went home early, I believe.

To be honest, it might be challenging to go back to being a supporter and consider that you could have been out there assisting.

I simply forgot that I was chosen for it at all as I was watching it with all of my friends. I simply reverted to the little boy I used to be when I used to watch Scotland.

He didn’t allow himself to take future inclusion for granted at that trying time.

“I can’t just leave and say, “I’ll get picked again, it’s okay,”” he said. “I can set goals for myself,” was all that was on my mind.

It’s difficult to think he’ll experience the same level of anxiety once more. When he came off the bench against Poland last month, he finally made it there.

Although he was proud of himself for getting his first cap, he was a little disappointed with the result.

“I started at 2-1 down,” he thought to himself. “I was only concerned with trying to get us the victory in the game.” That obviously did not occur. After we tied the score at two goals apiece, there was a penalty in the final seconds.

We didn’t have the same wonderful sensation after the game because we lost. Thus, my only genuine thought was, “Okay, next one, next one.” And that’s how I’ve approached everything.

That night, the legendary Robert Lewandowski performed. In Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo was waiting for Doak to give him another cap. The young Scot now knows that these kinds of things happen every day.

“To tell the truth, it’s not even me,” he remarked. “You’ve just played against whoever, and I’m just like, yeah,” my family says.

Such reflective moments are infrequent and ephemeral.

He emphasized, “I feel like I’ve always gone through things in football dead quick.” The next item is all that’s there is to it at all times.

“Because you’ll just ruin the things that are going to come if you spend too much time thinking back on the good things that you’ve done.”

In his first two seasons, Doak appeared in five games for Liverpool. He has played at the Riverside for the same amount of games already. He arrived at this camp in Scotland with a level of enthusiasm he had never experienced before.

“I played three games in seven days the week before we came here,” he remarked. “I believe this is the most football I’ve played in the last eight or nine months,” said the player who started all three of them.

Although it’s physically taxing on you, I felt OK because I hadn’t done that before. I relished every minute of it and felt in good shape.

Of course, there are other eighteen-year-old boys who play every week, but each person has a unique story to tell. My games are about to begin.

Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb should serve as the setting for his upcoming one on Saturday.

The teenager with fire in his boots won’t care what happens; he or she won’t feel pressured to please the anonymous online haters. Being able to see himself in the mirror is enough these days.

“I have high expectations for myself,” he remarked. However, I refuse to become fixated on the notion of accomplishing goals.

“I think I’ll get noticed if I just go game by game, go out and enjoy it, and go out and play well.”