The full-back has been sidelined for almost two years but has returned to the international set-up
06:00, 26 Aug 2025
(Image: Getty Images)
Steve Clarke reckons a quick chat with Aaron Hickey merely outlined the desire and mental strength of the fighting Scotland star.
For the first time in almost two years, the national boss is able to call upon the Brentford ace.
And Hickey’s nomination for the World Cup openers against Denmark and Belarus mark another key milestone in his return from painful and lengthy absence.
The right-back hasn’t featured for his country since facing Spain in October 2023 due to serious hamstring issues and two surgeries.
For such a youthful talent, the timing of absence has been brutal at a key point in his career, but his ability to deal with the situation has impressed Clarke.
He said: “It tells you he’s very single-minded and determined. He knows what he wants to do. I find him a really good person.
“I had a really good chat with him last week. Nothing seems to faze him. Almost two years out at that stage of your career can be a very difficult thing. But he wasn’t fazed at all.
“He was really looking forward to being in the squad. When he went to Italy, he just went out there, did what he did, played the way he plays.
“He got his move back to the Premier League and I think before he picked up the injury, he was actually linked with some of the top six clubs in the Premier League, which shows you the qualities that he’s got.”
Hickey has made outings in both of his club’s opening two fixtures this term, but Clarke added: “We’ve also got to remember he’s been out for two years and we do have to look after him on the way back in, both ourselves and Brentford.
“But if we can get him on the pitch at some stage, and he can show the qualities that he’s shown, it’ll be really good to have him back.
“It’s good for us and even better for Aaron. It was a difficult recovery process for him. He’s good to go.
Aaron Hickey celebrates Scotland going 2-0 ahead
“Whether he’s good to go 90 minutes over two games is a different conversation but we’ll manage him. He’s a big player for us and his club.”
When Hickey moved to Serie A to join Bologna, he kick-started a fresh wave of Scots headed for Italy with Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Che Adams in the squad. Lennon Miller joined that Tartan contingent with his move to Udinese and Clarke hopes he’ll make a similar impact as the last crop.
And Clarke said: “It’s going to be down to Lennon. He’s gone out there, he’s made a big decision to go and play in Serie A. Udinese, reasonably competitive, good club, with a nice stadium.
“He’s got to get opportunities to play, grasp the opportunity and then, if he plays as he can play, I’m sure he’ll be another Scottish success in Serie A.
“When they go out there, you make the choice to go, it’s a big decision to go.
“I had clubs from England who spoke to me about taking him. He wanted to go abroad.
“It’s now down to him to make sure that he plays week in, week out and his career continues to develop in a positive direction as it’s been going until now.”
As well as Hickey’s return, Clarke also has big-money Bournemouth new boy Ben Doak back with a chance of donning a Scotland shirt for the first time in 10 months.
And Hibs’ Kieron Bowie is also included again, as the manager blends youth with the experience of seniors stalwarts.
Clarke said: “We’ve shown that we can play different systems with Ben, different systems without Ben. Bournemouth is a good move for him if he plays.
“He has to play, he has to go there, he has to do well. He has to keep his standards high. He has to do well when he plays and, for us, it’s nice to have him back in the squad because it gives us something a little bit different than what we have.
“Kieron came onto my radar watching the Under 21 games. At the time, Ben was the one who was getting the big mentions, but Kieron caught my eye a few times, He missed a lot of last season, but finished the season quite well, came into the camp in the summer and I was impressed.
“Kieron’s started the season well, deserves a place in the squad and hopefully if he gets the chance to be on the pitch, he does what he does.
“I look at that squad, it’s got a lot of good experience in it, players that know how to qualify for major tournaments.
“I opened the squad up a little bit in the summer with some more younger ones just to give them a taste, only Kieron and Lennon have stayed.
“I feel a little bit sorry for Tommy Conway that he’s missed out this time, but I’ve got Lyndon Dykes back fit and I just feel that Lyndon’s experience can give us a little bit more up front, certainly for these two away games.
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“I’ve always tried to keep a consistency of squad. There’s a lot of people in this current squad that know how to qualify. They’ve shown that. The players know what’s required in these games.”