Scotland manager Steve Clarke has announced his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Denmark and Belarus, with Aaron Hickey included after recovering from a long-term hamstring injury. Clarke emphasized that Hickey’s return will be carefully managed to avoid risking a relapse. Other returning players include Ryan Christie, Ben Doak, and Lyndon Dykes, while Lennon Miller and Kieron Bowie retain their places after featuring in summer friendlies. The campaign begins with an away game against Denmark on September 5th.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has addressed concerns surrounding Aaron Hickey’s fitness, confirming that the Brentford defender’s return to the national team will be carefully managed as the Tartan Army prepares for their World Cup qualifying campaign. Hickey, 22, has been included in the squad for upcoming matches against Denmark and Belarus, marking his first call-up since recovering from a significant hamstring injury.
Hickey’s injury woes kept him sidelined for a considerable 659 days before he made a brief appearance as a substitute in Brentford’s 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest. While he has made two substitute appearances for Brentford at the start of the Premier League season, Clarke is understandably cautious about throwing him straight back into the thick of international competition.
“He’s good to go,” Clarke stated, “Whether he’s good to go 90 minutes over two games is a different conversation. We’ll manage him.” He emphasized the importance of a measured approach, acknowledging the difficulty of Hickey’s recovery process. “He’s been a long time out injured, and it was a difficult recovery process. He’s a big player for us. It’s up to everybody to manage him properly. We’ll do that.”
The inclusion of Hickey is a significant boost for Scotland, who are embarking on their quest to qualify for the World Cup. The versatile defender has already earned 14 caps for his country and is expected to play a key role in Clarke’s plans, provided his fitness allows.
Steve Clarke has named his first squad of our World Cup Qualifying campaign.
The campaign starts away to Denmark and Belarus, before matches at Hampden Park in October and November: https://t.co/BRhAhPsOmw pic.twitter.com/gWB0KF51m9
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 25, 2025
Hickey isn’t the only player returning from injury for Scotland. Ryan Christie, Ben Doak, and Lyndon Dykes have also been named in the squad after overcoming their respective injury setbacks. This influx of returning players provides Clarke with a wider range of options and strengthens the team’s overall depth.
Alongside the returning stars, Clarke has also included Lennon Miller, who recently joined Udinese, and Kieron Bowie of Hibernian, both of whom featured in the summer friendlies. Clarke explained his decision to integrate younger players into the squad, stating, “I opened the squad up a little bit in the summer with some more younger ones just to give them a taste. From the summer camp, only Kieron and Lennon have stayed in and around the scene. The rest of the boys have caught my eye.”
Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign begins with an away match against Denmark on September 5th, followed by a trip to Belarus three days later. These opening fixtures will set the tone for the rest of the campaign, and Clarke will be hoping his team can get off to a positive start. The team will then return to Hampden Park for further qualifying matches in October and November.
The careful management of Hickey’s return is emblematic of Clarke’s pragmatic approach. He understands the importance of balancing ambition with player welfare, particularly after a prolonged injury absence. Scotland fans will be eager to see Hickey back on the pitch, but they will also appreciate Clarke’s commitment to ensuring he returns to peak condition without risking a recurrence of his injury.
The squad’s blend of experience and youth provides a solid foundation for a challenging qualifying campaign. With key players returning from injury and promising young talents emerging, Scotland will be aiming to make a strong push for a place at the World Cup.