A Long Road to Recovery

Aaron Hickey’s career faced a significant challenge when he suffered a serious hamstring injury against Chelsea in October 2023. The injury, which included setbacks in his recovery, forced him to miss most of the 2024-25 season, only returning to first-team training in April 2025.

After 659 days away from competitive action, Hickey made his return as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest in August 2025. Following this comeback, he earned a recall to the Scotland national team for the first time in two years, with the player noting that the long injury spell had strengthened him mentally.

Professional Journey and Achievements

The 23-year-old Scottish professional footballer, who currently plays as a full-back for Premier League club Brentford, began his senior career at Heart of Midlothian in 2019. After establishing himself in Scotland, he moved to Italy with Bologna, before joining Brentford in 2022.

During his time in Italy, Hickey’s talent was recognized with a nomination for the 2021 Golden Boy award. He made history by becoming the first Scot to score five goals in a single Serie A season since Graeme Souness at Sampdoria, joining an elite group of Scottish goalscorers in Italy’s top flight alongside Souness, Joe Jordan, and Denis Law.

National Team Prospects

Looking ahead, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is hopeful about having Hickey available for the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, with crucial matches against Denmark and Belarus scheduled for September. Clarke has emphasized the importance of a measured approach to Hickey’s return, noting that while he was close to selection, he needs to complete a good pre-season before returning to international duty.

As Hickey works on managing his playing time after such a lengthy absence, he remains focused on making the most of every opportunity. The player missed Euro 2024 in Germany due to his injury but is now determined to savor every moment of his return to international football.