Aaron Hickey sparks Scotland Euro 2024 panic as Brentford boss gets honest about returning defender

Scotland boss Steve Clarke faces a major Euro 2024 sweat over Aaron Hickey’s fitness – as he is unlikely to play for Brentford again this season.

Club boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that the full-back is back training but thinks it is unlikely he will play for the Bees before the end of the campaign. It now remains to be seen if the 21-year-old will be fit enough to be named in Clarke’s 23 man squad for this summer’s finals in Germany.

Frank, speaking at his press conference, said: “Hickey, I think I saw him run out on the grass today. I don’t expect him to be available before the end of the season so it’s a big positive if he is.”

Hickey has been struggling with a hamstring injury back in October. His last appearance for Scotland was in the Euro 2024 qualifying defeat to Spain that same month. Hickey had nailed down his place as Scotland’s main right back but his injury has allowed Nathan Patterson to step in, despite limited game time at Everton.

Clarke will be keeping in touch with Hickey and the Brentford team as he looks to finalise his squad for the Euro 2024 group games with Germany, Hungary and Switzerland. Scotland have warm-up friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland before the finals. Clarke is also waiting on the fitness of midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is currently out injured at Brighton.