Steven Naismith hails ‘good footballer’ Aaron Hickey’s ‘amazing’ development

Steven Naismith spoke of Aaron Hickey’s “amazing” development as the 19-year-old Bologna left-back looks to make his Scotland debut in the upcoming friendly double-header.

The former Hearts defender, who joined the Serie A side in September 2020, got his first senior call-up for Thursday’s game against Poland at Hampden Park and away to either Wales or Austria next week.

Scotland coach Naismith, who played alongside Hickey at Tynecastle before joining the coaching team at the Gorgie club, assessed the rise of the teenager.

“Amazing,” said the ex-Scotland striker, who hopes captain Andy Robertson and Lyndon Dykes can play some part in the next two games even though they did not join up with Steve Clarke’s squad due to Covid-19 and injury respectively.

“Aaron is mature enough beyond his years and his move to Italy tells you that. He is happy to go and have that experience and wants to do well.

“I spoke to him a lot at the time when he was leaving Hearts because I know how hard it can be with so many different options and offers and so many different things that might happen.

“He had to make the right choice and I think he did, his career has progressed and progressed again. He is still very young and still got a lot to learn and develop as a player but he is a good footballer.”

Although Scotland is well-served with left-backs including Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Greg Taylor, Naismith does not believe that will necessarily be a barrier to Hickey’s international career.

He said: “There is a lot of competition on the left but I wouldn’t naturally have said Aaron is just a left-back, he can play in a number of positions which will help him.

He is still very young and still got a lot to learn and develop as a player but he