FROM A COLT TO A TOP GUN
Hickey is the boy who fought among men and now the giants of Europe eye his signature
HE IS the quick learner who took a fast track to the first XI. And then left more established team-mates in his wake.
Aaron Hickey, who turns 18 tomorrow, can hardly be surprised to find himself being pursued by some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Long before he celebrates his 19 th, the two-footed, football savvy, pacy Hearts left-back should be based in Munich, Milan, Manchester, Rome or even Glasgow. To name just a few potential destinations.
Among those who have watched him go from 16-year-old debutant to best player in a struggling team, there is no doubt about Hickey’s ability to take the next step.
Nor, according to former Jambos full-back Allan Preston, can there be any doubt about the youngster’s legacy.
Hickey, says Preston, proves the value of exposing youngsters to competitive football against grown men.
As the Scottish game revisits the whole idea of colt teams and ‘strategic partnerships’, his ascent is rather timely.
‘Exposing a young boy like Hearts did at such a young age, playing him in a Scottish Cup final at 16 and then trusting him to play in the first team, shows you how the best young players can come on,’ Preston told Sportsmail.
‘And that ties into exactly what we’re talking about with this ‘B’ team or colt team idea right now.
‘This is a classic example of giving a young boy a chance, at 16 years old, to play in the first team. And he’s done very well.
‘If you think they’re good enough, as Craig Levein did, play them in the first team at 16.
‘He was arguably Hearts’ best player last season. Undoubtedly, he can hold his head up. He performed very well through some difficult circumstances, especially with this being his first full season.
‘That can be the toughest challenge, that first full season, and you get peaks and troughs with boys his age.
‘But his consistency was incredible, a 7/10 every week — sometimes an 8/10 but never anything lower than a seven because he was so consistent.’
Hickey is not the finished article, of course. True, he made 30 appearances for Hearts in a season cut short. But he had only featured three times — including in that Scottish Cup final — in season 2018-19.
Even when he had cemented his place in the starting XI, there have been moments when he has looked just a little bamboozled by a veteran opponent.
You could see the uncertainty as he wondered whether to follow his man into unfamiliar territory and leave a gap in the line — or maintain team shape while allowing a potential threat to wander unchecked.
Tynecastle regular Preston viewed those instances as learning opportunities.
‘You did see him occasionally being out of position — but that will come with experience,’ said the pundit, who also works as a consultant in player management.
‘And that is why the earlier we expose them to a first team, the better it will be.
‘If you’re playing against your peers every week, whether that is in a youth league or a reserve league which has effectively become a youth competition, you don’t have these old heads.
‘You don’t come up against experienced pros who will pull you about the park, take you into areas where you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing.
‘This is why I think the ‘B’ team proposal is brilliant. And I wish all of our top clubs will do it. I think it will educate our young players more quickly.
‘Aaron Hickey, even at the age he is, won’t make the same mistakes as he did when he was 16.
‘Because he’s learned by making those mistakes. He’s got old heads round about him, talking him through it.
‘But, most importantly, he’s got experienced opponents pushing and pulling him into positions. That doesn’t happen at youth level because you’re all in the same boat, all learning the game.
‘For Aaron, you can see how much he’s developed in a struggling team. He’s a terrific player. Twofooted, which really helps. Look at the goal he scored at Easter Road with his right foot. That shows you how comfortable he is on both feet.
‘He’s a Maurice Malpas-type, comfortable playing left-back but also able to play right-back. If he has a career like Maurice, he’ll have done great.
‘Aaron’s obviously a great
athlete. He needs to fill out but that will come through time. So he’s got all the attributes.’
Although Bayern Munich, Lazio, Manchester City, AC Milan and Crystal Palace will all have appeal to a player entering the final year of his contract, Celtic are also keen.
Hickey spent time in their academy system, which not only gives the Scottish champions an ‘in’ — but also cuts the cost of any transfer.
Preston, addressing his likely move, said: ‘Celtic weren’t keen to let him go when he moved to Hearts — and that’s why they put a clause in the deal giving them 30 per cent of any future fee.
‘English academies and top European academies, these clubs looking at him — and I saw Bayern Munich mentioned in Sportsmail this morning — want you in at the earliest possible opportunity.
‘They want you to get into their way of thinking, their way of playing. They want to get rid of your bad habits.
‘That’s not being disrespectful to Hearts. But we’re talking about the
crème de la crème, some of the biggest clubs in the world. They train and play at a different level.
‘So, if Aaron was to go to one of these massive clubs, he’ll see a difference.
‘Look at the progression of Billy Gilmour. He was always going to be good — but the progression he’s made at Chelsea has been remarkable.
‘But Aaron is playing in the first team at the moment, so he doesn’t want to go back to playing 23s. That would be a backwards step.
‘He wouldn’t enjoy that. He can’t go sit in a reserve team or a 23s. It would mentally be very difficult for him to do that.
‘Even if he gets loaned out, he needs to play in a first team.’