AS Scotland's players gathered this week for their first get-together since their European Championship disappointment, there was a tongue-in-cheek throwaway line from Ben Doak that offered a glimpse of both the character and confidence of Middlesbrough's new loanee.

"If I stayed fit, it might have been different," Doak told Aston Villa's John McGinn and the other Scotland seniors in attendance.

And to think he's not yet won a cap!

“That's just his character and it's brilliant," said McGinn this week.

"He's got a lot of confidence. He's a good laugh and he's fitted in well. He's excited to play some games at Middlesbrough and I think he's ready to contribute for us. I think everyone's aware of his ability and he's certainly something different to what we've got."

Steve Clarke is undoubtedly aware of Doak's ability, hence including the teenager in his initial squad for the European Championships despite the fact the winger had spent the second half of last season sidelined with a knee injury.

Injury ultimately forced Doak out of the squad ahead of the tournament in Germany but there's excitement in the Scotland camp. And there's excitement at Boro.

Signing a right-winger wasn't necessarily on Boro's wishlist going into the final week or so of the window but there was no way the Championship promotion hopefuls were going to pass on the opportunity to sign Doak.

Plenty of Championship clubs - as well as newly promoted Leicester and Southampton - wanted the highly-rated teenager but Doak is understood to have instantly made it clear Boro was the move he wanted when he learnt of the interest from Teesside.

Hull City were hoping their strong relationship with Liverpool was going to swing the battle for the winger in their direction but Boro have their own secret weapon when it comes to a link with the Anfield club - Jonathan Woodgate. The former Real Madrid defender worked as a scout for the Reds between leaving Boro as head coach and returning as part of Michael Carrick's coaching staff.

This is Doak's first loan move, with Jurgen Klopp deciding against a temporary switch 12 months ago, instead of the opinion the youngster had a part to play and would get opportunities in the Europa League.

“Ben Doak, oh my God, it’s much fun to watch these kids," he said last July.

And it wasn't just his former manager Doak had impressed.

"I remember when he came on against Villa away last year, and he did that stepover and went past the full back," said Virgil van Dijk a year or so ago.

"He’s very exciting, very direct, one-on-one. I call him a Tasmanian Devil with the way he is buzzing around, he’s just so quick. If his decision making gets better - and he has all the time in the world for that - then he could definitely be one for the future."

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And it's worth remembering here that Doak doesn't turn 19 until September. And this will be his first taste of the Championship.

But you get the impression he won't be daunted by the prospect of the second tier and a new dressing room.

"He's just walked in and you'd think he had been here for years, which is good," said Scotland assistant manager John Carver after Doak linked up with Scotland for the first time earlier this year.

"And the lads like him. He's that type of guy, you just take to him straight away.

"I'd never had a conversation with him, but I've had many with him now already and he's a good lad. He's got no fear and that's where I think young players coming through now develop like that.

“When you play for a big football club like Liverpool and he's played in some important games and has shown he's got that ability, then he's not going to be overawed by us guys."

He's confident but Doak knows he needs to serve his time.

“I look ahead and I know why I’m not playing (at Liverpool)," he said late last year.

"It’s because one of the best players in the Premier League (Mo Salah) is in front of me. So I have no reason to complain.

"I’m just trying my best to learn from him and all the others as well. They’re dead good with me, always taking me aside to tell me what I should be doing.

"They help me keep my head as well. They know the situation I’m in. They were all the same as well, they’ve helped me a lot. The gaffer’s quite quiet. I think he knows that I know what he expects. I’m just trying to get on his good side and stay on his good side.

“The older players at Liverpool, like Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Mo Salah, quickly remind me, ‘Listen you’re only 17, you’ve not done anything yet, keep grounded and keep working hard’.

"My first few months when I was in and around it a lot, it was a bit “oh my god, that’s Mo Salah, that’s Andy Robertson. I was starstruck, but I settled in really quickly. They’re all really good. They’re all just normal lads."

Doak's first challenge at Boro is breaking in to the Boro team.

Isaiah Jones currently has the shirt on the right flank but now has company, with Micah Hamilton having arrived earlier in the summer and Doak now set to apply the pressure as well.

"He's played wide right every time that I've seen him," Craig Hignett, who is the expert Liverpool summariser for BBC Merseyside, told The Red Radio.

"He can operate anywhere at that end of the pitch, but I would say wide right is his main position. He's really quick, and he's only small but dynamic. He's got a goal in him, but it's when he takes players on and creates stuff... he can cause havoc."

Back to John McGinn, who agrees.

“Even in training, he's so explosive," he said of Doak this week.

"Sheer pace, power, strength. It's certainly something we've been missing over the past couple of seasons. He's definitely going to bring something different there and hopefully we can see. He'll definitely get supporters off their seats.”