Ben Gannon-Doak constantly pressured North Macedonia, repeatedly forcing their defence to respond. His limited minutes at Bournemouth have left him less clinical than his raw talent suggests, and his delivery still requires refinement.
Yet his underlying qualities remain exciting: his pace, his tireless involvement, the volume of touches he generates and the number of chances he creates.
North Macedonia were never fully comfortable. They avoided greater damage only because Gannon-Doak blasted one chance wide, struck another without enough force and lost composure on a third opportunity. Even so, he was the match’s most compelling performer.
At just 20 years old, he has many seasons ahead and should yet feature in numerous important games. The next step, however, depends on decisions he must make with his club.
His league involvement this season has been minimal: two minutes against Liverpool, 19 against Real Sociedad, eight against Brentford, and one minute each against Newcastle and Manchester City. The only start of the season came in a League Cup tie against Lincoln.
Bournemouth’s squad is deep, but Gannon-Doak needs more consistent match time to develop. If his club allows it, a January loan move could be a sensible option, though that remains a major uncertainty.
It is a situation Gannon-Doak must resolve, both for his own career and for Scotland.
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