Pressley hopeful Hickey can make Euros

Steven Pressley insists Scotland defender Aaron Hickey is determined to be fit for Euro 2024.

The Brentford rightback has been sidelined since October with a serious hamstring injury and Bee boss Thomas Frank is not expecting Hickey to be available for club action again this season.

However, ex-scotland and Hearts defender Pressley, who is Brentford’s head of player development, insists there is a chance the 21-year-old could be part of the national team in Germany.

Hickey’s availability for the tournament has become even more significant for Scotland after Everton right-back Nathan Patterson sustained a hamstring injury on Monday night against Chelsea that Toffees boss Sean Dyche described as “serious”

Pressley said: “Whether it’s too quick or not, he’s giving it a real go. I had a cup of coffee in the canteen with him and he said he’s going to give this a real go – he’s making good progress.

“I said to him, ‘Aaron, my advice is this – from my own career, one of the lessons I learned is that when you’re a young player and opportunities like this arise, you always think there’s going to be plenty more in your career’.

“Landscapes change very quickly, careers change very quickly and this might be your only opportunity to play in a major tournament’.

“Now I hope for Scotland and for Aaron Hickey it’s one of many, but you just never know.

“I really hope – with recent news about Patterson as well – it would be a big plus for Scotland if he was fit because Aaron is an outstanding player.

“He really is a player I think could go on to the next level. I think he could play at the top.”