Scotland coach Stephen Naismith spoke of Aaron Hickey’s “astonishing” improvement because the 19-year-old left-back from Bologna appeared to make his worldwide debut within the pleasant double with a header.
The previous Hearts defender, who joined Serie A in September 2020, has obtained his first call-up for Thursday’s sport in opposition to Poland at Hampden Park and away to Wales or Austria subsequent week.
Scotland coach Naismith, who performed alongside Hickey at Tynecastle earlier than becoming a member of Gorgie’s teaching employees, assessed {the teenager}’s rise.
“Wonderful,” mentioned the previous Scotland striker, who’s hoping captain Andy Robertson and Lyndon Dykes can play some function within the subsequent two matches regardless of not becoming a member of Steve Clarke’s squad attributable to COVID-19 and damage, respectively.
“Aaron is mature sufficient after his years and transferring to Italy he tells you that. He’s glad to go, he has that have and he needs to do nicely.
“I spoke to him quite a bit on the time he was leaving Hearts as a result of I understand how tough it may be with so many alternative choices and provides and so many alternative issues that might occur.
Steve Clark included Aaron Hickey within the Scotland squad for the primary time
“He needed to make the precise determination and I feel he did, his profession progressed and he progressed once more. He is nonetheless very younger and he nonetheless has quite a bit to study and develop as a participant however he is an effective footballer.”
Though Scotland have well-served left-backs together with Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Greg Taylor, Naismith doesn’t assume it is going to essentially be a hindrance to Hickey’s worldwide profession.
He mentioned: “There may be lots of competitors on the left however I would not naturally say that Aaron is only a left-back, he can play in various positions that can assist him.
“What you name his regular place is absolutely loaded, there’s lots of high quality and lots of males competing for positions, so he simply wants laborious work and his information, if he’s chosen for any place he’ll go and be pleased with himself and he’ll do his greatest.
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Scotland coach Stephen Naismith mentioned the upcoming friendlies are an opportunity for gamers to say the World Cup play-off in June.
“However he has to indicate the urge for food, the angle and the potential on the coaching floor to be continually on the staff.”
Robertson and Dykes have been the one Clarks to be absent from the Scotland coaching base in Edinburgh.
The Liverpool left-back, who missed the FA Cup match in opposition to Nottingham Forest on the weekend, has contracted COVID-19.
Striker Dykes has missed QPR’s final six matches with a hamstring damage and is being evaluated by his membership.
Naismith mentioned: “There may be hope that they may come again sooner or later, when that’s decided by the golf equipment and protocols in place however there’s hope that they may rejoin the staff sooner or later.
Captain Andy Robertson is ready to overlook Poland’s pleasant after testing optimistic for Covid
“However when it comes to the primary match, it is fairly clear that the group that’s right here goes to be the one we are going to concentrate on on this match.
“Then as with each sport, we’ll take a look at accidents and issues like that after that.
“It is a every day scenario, Robbo has Covid, so there is a protocol it’s important to comply with and Lyndon is again in his membership for remedy and the place he’s, so there is a dialog happening daily however there’s hope that sooner or later they get entangled.
“Tomorrow it could change when it comes to circumstances however once more the golf equipment will lead the scenario as a result of they won’t launch a participant when he’s injured or when he’s unfit.”
