Aaron Hickey's Journey to Recovery

At just 23, Aaron Hickey has already experienced a rollercoaster football career. From making his Scottish Cup final debut with Heart of Midlothian at 16 to becoming the first Scot to score in Serie A since Graeme Souness in the 1980s, Hickey's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. However, a recurring hamstring injury forced him into a nearly two-year hiatus, requiring two surgeries and a grueling rehabilitation process.

Mental Strength and Motivation

"I had to go through a lot, to be honest," Hickey shared with BBC Scotland. "Every day in the gym is not easy at all. Working away, having to keep myself positive, to earn a call-up for Scotland again, that's what all this hard work is for. Every young player wants to play for their country, and that was one of the big aims for me again."

Return to the National Team

Hickey's return to the Scotland squad comes before he has even completed 90 minutes for his club, Brentford. Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is cautious but optimistic about Hickey's role in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Belarus.

"It gives me a lot of confidence that the manager wants me back in the team as soon as possible," Hickey said. "He's been good for me during my rehab. He stayed in touch and was always giving me motivation to get back in the squad. Whether I play or not, just to be involved again is an amazing feeling."

World Cup Dreams

Hickey was a standout in Scotland's successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. With key players like Scott McTominay and Ben Gannon Doak, Scotland is hopeful of ending their 28-year World Cup drought.

"You've got to believe in yourself," Hickey emphasized. "I'm pretty sure all the other players know that we can do it - it's just about believing in the team. We have a lot of good individuals. We just all need to combine together and work hard for each other."

Personal Aspirations

For Hickey, qualifying for the World Cup would be the pinnacle of his career. "It's everything that I've worked for," he said. "I'm pretty sure it's everyone's dream to play in a World Cup. It would be the proudest moment of my career."

Looking Ahead

After missing out on last year's Euro finals due to injury, Hickey is determined to make the most of his return. "But you need to have lows to have highs. This has been one of my lows, with the injury - now I'm aiming for some highs. Qualifying for the World Cup, playing for Scotland, playing for Brentford. Just to be back playing."