Hickey adds to Scotland injury woes for March friendlies

Brentford right-back Aaron Hickey will miss Scotland’s World Cup warm-up friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast as injuries continue to plague several key players in Steve Clarke’s squad.

The Premier League club have revealed they hope the 23-year-old, who was withdrawn at half-time against Brighton and Hove Albion on 21 February with a hamstring problem, “will return after the March international break”.

Having already lost Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland until April with a hamstring injury, Heart of Midlothian head coach Derek McInnes has also all-but ruled Craig Gordon out of Japan’s visit to Hampden on 28 March and the match against Ivory Coast at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium three days later.

The 43-year-old goalkeeper has already missed the Scottish Premiership leaders’ latest six matches with a shoulder injury.

John McGinn is also doubtful, although the Aston Villa midfielder said last week that he is two or three weeks away from a return from a knee injury picked up on 18 January that required surgery and had the 31-year-old initially fearing for his place at this summer’s World Cup finals.

Fellow midfielder Scott McTominay picked up an injury in Napoli’s win over Genoa on 7 February and, although he said last week he had an outside chance of playing against Hellas Verona, was absent for a fourth consecutive match.

However, Billy Gilmour made his second substitute appearance since picking up a groin injury in November as the midfielder helped Napoli win 2-1.

Romelu Lukaku held off the attentions of Scotland striker Kieron Bowie, making his fourth start for the hosts, to score the late winner – the first time they have won this season with McTominay absent.

McTominay could make his club squad on Friday at home to Torino, for whom fellow 29-year-old Che Adams might also return after a two-game absence with a calf strain.

The striker had been passed fit for Sunday’s 2-0 win over Lazio but did not make the match-day squad.

Meanwhile, Derby County right-back Max Johnston is expected to return in mid-March after four months out with a hamstring injury but might not be match fit in time for the Scotland friendlies.

However, defender Ross McCrorie returned to the Bristol City side that lost to Watford at the weekend after three games out with concussion.

Centre-half Grant Hanley is expected to return to action this week after missing five games for Hibernian.

Rangers midfielder Connor Barron, who has been out with a knee injury since early January, is expected back this month.