Scotland will ‘manage’ Hickey as full-back returns

Hickey, who has been out for almost two years, is “good to go” for Scotland, but head coach Steve Clarke won’t be too burdened.

As World Cup qualifying gets underway, the 23-year-old has been chosen for a home double-header against Belarus and Denmark next month.

Hickey, who has had major hamstring issues, started from the bench in Brentford’s first two Premier League games. He has won 14 caps.

Clarke responded, “He’s good to go.” It’s a different conversation whether he’s good to play for 90 minutes over two games. He will be managed by us.

He has had a difficult recovery process because he has been out for a long time.

He plays a significant role for us, he said. Everyone has the responsibility of managing him effectively. We’ll carry that out.

Since Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly are Rangers and Nottingham Forest’s respective second choice, Zander Clark may be the favorite to take the gloves.

Lennon Miller, who has started for Blackburn Rovers after playing in summer friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein, is called up while Dominic Hyam, who was capped once as a late substitute in June 2023, is called back.

Four of the eight midfielders on the list are based in Serie A because of the 19-year-old’s inclusion.

Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie has had a successful first season, and the 22-year-old striker has a second chance to start in place against Liechtenstein.

In order to give the squad a taste, Clarke explained, “I opened the squad up a little bit in the summer with some more younger ones.”

Only Kieron and Lennon have resided in and around the scene since the summer camp. I’ve seen the other boys lately.

I’m optimistic that we can do that again when I look at that squad because it has a lot of good experience and players who know how to win big tournaments.

Scotland travels to Belarus in Hungary on September 5 for a three-day meeting in Copenhagen.

Greece is the other group in Group C, with Clarke claiming to be “excited for the challenge” of a six-game campaign spread over three months.

Only the group winners will be guaranteed a spot at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Scotland submitting an application for qualification for the first time since 1998.

Defenders: Hanley (Hibernian), Hendry (Al-Etiffaq), Hickey (Brentford), Hyam (Blackburn Rovers), Johnston (Sturm Graz), McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Robertson (Liverpool), Souttar (Rangers), Tierney (Celtic),

Midfielders: McLean (Norwich City), McTominay (Napoli), Miller (Udinese), Ferguson (Bologna), Gannon Doak (Bournemouth), Gilmour (Napoli), McLean (Napoli), McLean (Napoli), and Miller (Udinese).