Billy Gilmour says Ben Doak will not be short of support on international duty

Billy Gilmour has promised he and his Scotland team-mates will do anything they can to help Ben Doak navigate his way through the limelight – but does not sense the 19-year-old is having any problems dealing with it.

Doak has had to cope with expectations exploding since making his Celtic debut aged 16 and then breaking into the Liverpool first-team squad shortly after moving to Merseyside.

The winger made his international debut at 18 and made another breakthrough days after his 19th birthday with a man-of-the-match performance against Croatia on Friday.

Doak’s rise to prominence has a number of similarities with Gilmour, who was cast as the next big thing at Rangers before making the move to Chelsea at a similar age and making an impact there.

The pair both come from North Ayrshire in towns seven miles apart and Gilmour will always be on hand to guide Doak along – if required.

“I don’t think I need to speak to Ben Doak about how to handle it,” the Napoli midfielder said. “He’s a good kid and he works hard. He just loves playing football. You can see he’s doing very well this season, his confidence is high.

“In the game the other night he was a real joy to watch, going down that wing playing really well.

“He knows himself he is on the scene, everyone is looking at him. He just needs to keep doing what he is doing.

“He knows he has everyone in the team to help him, the manager, and we’ll help him.”

Head coach Steve Clarke raised the prospect of resting Doak from the start in Monday’s must-win UEFA Nations League clash against Poland in Warsaw.

Gilmour knows Doak will be itching to play but recognises that sometimes young players are held back for their own good.

“I can understand,” the 23-year-old said. “I was the same, I wanted to be part of it and play every game.

“But the manager has done amazing by easing him in, taking his time, bedding him in. You can see from the other night’s performance, he was really good. He just needs to keep doing that.

“We’ve got a great squad and we are all here to help him. He might be frustrated sometimes but that’s how it is as being a youngster. You need to try to keep progressing. Obviously he is at Middlesbrough for the full season so hopefully he does well there.”

Gilmour has continued his ascent by moving from Brighton to Napoli and helped Antonio Conte’s side to top spot in Serie A.

“I’m enjoying football, I’m playing, so it’s been good,” he said. “It’s a bit of a settling-in stage for me right now, a different life. It’s been good but I’m taking it step by step. It’s all very different but I’m excited.

“It was an opportunity I wanted to take. I wanted to give everything to Napoli, it’s a new experience and hopefully it will go well. I wanted to go over there and challenge myself.

“It’s always been an idea, going abroad. I’m still pretty young and I want to challenge myself and see where I can go.”