Hickey will ‘give it a real go’ to make Scotland squad for Euros

Aaron Hickey has not given up hope of making the Scotland squad for Euro 2024 and is determined to “give it a real go” to be fit in time for the tournament kicking off in less than two months time.

That is according to club colleague Steven Pressley, the head of player development at Brentford, who revealed the 21-year-old is making good progress in his return from injury.

Hickey has not kicked a ball since rupturing his hamstring against Chelsea in October then suffering a setback during his rehabilition that meant an operation was required in February.

Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed doubts that Hickeywouldplayagainbefore the end of the Premier League season, putting his hopes of playing at Euro 2024 in doubt.

With Nathan Patterson also sufferingapotentially“serious” hamstring injury in Everton’s 6-0 defeat at Chelsea on Monday, it leaves Scotland boss Steve Clarke facing the prospect of being without his two firstchoice right-backs in Germany.

However, Pressley, has providedamorepositiveupdateon Hickey after catching up with* his fellow former Hearts player atthebeestraininggroundearlier this week.

“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,” said the former Scotland centre-back. “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 youngplayerandopportunities like this arise, you always think there’s going to be plenty more in your career’.

“Landscapes change very quickly and 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 Aaronreallyisanoutstandingplayer. He is a player I think could go on to the next level. I think he could play at the top.”

Scotland have friendlies lined up against Gibraltar in Faro on June 3 and Finland at Hampden four days later before kicking off Euro 2024 against hosts Germany on June 14 in a group also containing Switzerland and Hungary.

It would be a big plus for Scotland if he was fit because Aaron really is an outstanding player Steven Pressley