Aaron Hickey has been called up to the Scotland squad for the first time for the upcoming March friendlies.
The teenage full-back has been rewarded for his performances for Bologna with a chance to impress in the international set-up ahead of the World Cup play-offs.
Hickey made the move to Serie A from Hearts in 2020 and has established himself as a first team regular at Bologna. The 19-year-old has played more minutes than any other teenager in Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues this season.
National team boss Steve Clarke has named a 24-man squad of players for the upcoming international window. The national team were due to play Ukraine in their World Cup play-off semi-final but that match has been postponed until June due to the Russian invasion.
Instead Scotland will play Poland on March 24 at Hampden, then travel to play the loser of the Wales v Austria play-off semi-final on March 29.
The squad will use the break and friendlies as preparation for the World Cup play-off as they bid to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Hickey is the only new face in the squad as Clarke sticks with a settled group for the training camp.
David Marshall has returned to the squad and Ryan Jack is back after long-term injury, though Hearts stopper John Souttar misses out with an ankle problem.
Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Marshall are the trio of goalkeepers named. while Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney are the centre-back options.
Hickey, Stephen O’Donnell, Nathan Patterson, captain Andy Robertson and Greg Taylor give Clarke plenty of options in the full-back or wing-back positions.
Rangers midfielder Jack has been named alongside Stuart Armstrong,Lewis Ferguson, Billy Gilmour, John McGinn, Callum McGregor, Kenny McLean and Scott McTominay as the choices for the middle of the park.
Che Adams, Jacob Brown, Lyndon Dykes and Ryan Christie are the four forwards selected.
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