Scotland Receive Injury Boost Ahead of Nations League Clash with Greece
Scotland have been given a potential lift ahead of next month’s Nations League fixtures against Greece, as Aaron Hickey made his long-awaited return to action.
Head coach Steve Clarke has received an unexpected boost, with the 22-year-old right-back playing his first minutes in over a year on Friday. Hickey, sidelined for 489 days due to a severe hamstring injury, marked his comeback by featuring in the first half of Brentford B’s match against Birmingham City academy. Returning to his familiar right-back role, he made an immediate impact by scoring the opening goal with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box after 19 minutes.
Signed by Brentford for £17 million in 2022, Hickey has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines. Initially expected to be out for only a few months following surgery in October 2023, he suffered a major setback that required a second operation in August 2024. As a result, he missed last summer’s European Championship and the entirety of Brentford’s ongoing season.
Earlier this month, Brentford confirmed that Hickey had “partially” returned to training at the Gtech Community Stadium. Now fully reintegrated into first-team sessions, his return to competitive action is a major step forward for both club and country. His last appearance for Scotland came in October 2023, during a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
Scotland’s injury fortunes may be improving further, as Rangers defender John Souttar has also been spotted back in training under interim boss Barry Ferguson. His potential availability for the crucial double-header against Greece would provide another timely boost for Clarke’s squad.
