Ben Doak has been in excellent form with Middlesbrough this season _(Image: Tom Banks)_
BEN DOAK has been showered with praise for his performances with Middlesbrough so far this season – but Michael Carrick feels the winger’s team-mates also deserve considerable credit for helping to bring out the best in him.
Doak has been a revelation since joining [Boro](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough) on loan from Liverpool in the summer, with the 19-year-old rapidly having established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the Football League.
His two assists at the weekend took him to five for the season – the joint third-highest tally in the Championship – with Boro’s 3-1 win over Hull City lifting the Teessiders back into fifth position in the table.
Doak was a constant threat down the right-hand side against the Tigers, but while Carrick has been delighted with the teenager’s impact since moving to the North-East, he has been equally pleased with the way in which the rest of Boro’s players have taken to playing with the winger.
“He's (Doak) a different threat to most,” said the Boro boss. “He's quite direct and not so much loads of tricks and skills, but he has that attribute to be low with his centre of gravity and his sharpness to be really direct.
“Credit to the boys for supplying him and using him and bringing out the best in 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.”
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While Liverpool are keeping close tabs on Doak’s progress at the Riverside, the Premier League leaders are not expected to recall the youngster in January. As a result, Doak will remain on Teesside for the remainder of the campaign, with Carrick expecting his influence to continue to grow.
“It's clear for everyone to see the threat and talent he has,” said the head coach. “We're still trying to help him in certain parts of his game, but he's certainly having a really good spell at the moment. Hopefully, that continues.”