Aaron Hickey turned 24 yesterday, but there was no cake or alcohol in sight. Instead, he was sent to bed early, yet this was the greatest birthday of his young life. The Brentford defender is preparing to represent Scotland at a World Cup Finals, living the dream he has held since childhood.
Living the Dream
When asked about his perfect birthday present, Hickey said: "My dream is just being here to be honest. I'll spend it with my teammates and maybe get a little cake at dinner - but none of us will eat it! Playing at a World Cup with your country is everything."
He reflected on his journey from a young fan to a World Cup player: "Every young boy from Scotland supports Scotland when growing up. There was a picture of myself as a young boy with my Scotland jersey in the team hotel. To be here now, it's nice."
Overcoming Adversity
Hickey's rise from Hearts to Bologna and then to the Premier League for £17 million was halted by a hamstring injury and botched surgery, causing him to miss Euro 2024. He spent 659 days out of the game, sparking fears his career might not recover.
"One of the hardest things for any footballer is being injured," Hickey admitted. "Missing out on the Euros made it even more difficult. But going through that makes you stronger mentally. Now I'm just happy to be here."
Preparing for the World Cup
The Scotland squad has been training in oven-baked conditions in the US, with sauna sessions to acclimatize. Hickey noted: "The programme was to do 15-20 minutes every two or three days. The first few were a struggle, but you get used to it."
At 24, Hickey feels older with youngsters like Findlay Curtis and Ben Doak in the squad. "It's important to have a mixture of young and senior players. I feel older with the younger ones coming through, but it's nice."
Facing Brentford Teammate
Hickey may face Brentford teammate Igor Thiago when Scotland plays Brazil in Miami on June 24. "We've been talking every day about that game. He's a big boy and holds it up well. Hopefully I can give tips to our centre backs on how to deal with him!"
For now, Hickey is focused on Scotland's opener against Haiti in Boston. Despite the challenges, he is living the dream, and nothing can top that.
