Scotland startlet impresses again as he downs international teammate to seal rare Euro hat-trick

Gannon-Doak, 20, was handed his third start in the last five games as goals from Amine Adli, Lewis Cook and Alvaro Rodriguez helped them complete a remarkable hat-trick of results. The win meant the Cherries achieved the rare feat of defeating three separate former champions of Europe - AC Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa - in consecutive weeks, all by the same scoreline.

Named man of the match in a 3-0 Europa League win over Sturm Graz earlier this month, the former Celtic academy talent was given further praise following his eye-catching display in last Thursday’s 3-0 win over AC Milan, with Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose labelling him as a “special player”. Fellow international teammate Ryan Christie also started in midfield.

Joining the club from Liverpool in a £25million deal last summer, his debut season at the Vitality Stadium was ruined by injury, with Gannon-Doak suffering a major hamstring tear in Scotland's dramatic 4-2 World Cup qualifying win over Denmark last November. Ruled out for the bulk of the campaign, he ended the season making just nine substitute appearances in the English Premier League last season.

However, after returning to fitness in the summer, a series of glittering displays have caught the attention of the Bournemouth fanbase, and he once again showcased his ability in the win over Unai Emery’s side. The home side dominated in the opening stages, and Adli put them into the lead after just seven minutes with a close-range finish following a looped cross from James Hill, before Gannon-Doak came close to scoring his first of the season when he forced Marco Bizot into an acrobatic save with a vicious half-volley just inside the area.

Gannon-Doak was involved again just as Bournemouth doubled their lead just after the restart, picking up his first assist of the campaign when a smart short corner routine saw Cook’s dangerous in-swinging cross avoid everyone and nestle into the back of the visitors’ net on 51 minutes. With the Scottish winger taken off just after the hour mark, the hosts added a third on 69 minutes when they nabbed the ball back from Villa high up the field, allowing Rodriguez to blast home.

The third goal prompted Villa head coach Emery to introduce his captain, Scotland midfielder John McGinn, to the fray; however, he was unable to impact proceedings in the closing stages as Bournemouth sealed their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, where they’ll face Gannon-Doak’s former club Liverpool at Anfield on December 15.

Following the game, Gannon-Doak was hailed for another dazzling display on the right-flank. Playing 63 minutes, he created the most chances of any player on the pitch (4), had more touches than any other player in the opposition box (5) and was not dispossessed once. “I think it was quite a watchable game for a cup game,” said Rose. “Chances on both sides, but at the end I think it deserved win for us. We scored nice goals, we were relentless, won good balls, defended well, had a good goalkeeper. So I'm pleased today.”

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