HICKEY'S SCOT TO BE PLEASED

HE was invited to join up with Scotland's squad at their idyllic Alpine base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

- BY KEITH JACKSON

But Aaron Hickey simply couldn't face being so close to a major finals yet so far away from actually participating in it.

So he stayed at home instead with his shredded hamstring, watching the Euros from his couch, wondering if he might ever get the chance to pull on a Scotland shirt again.

Hickey had hoped to be passed fit by Brentford's medical team in time to make the flight to Bavaria.

But that dream was snatched away when the injury recurred towards the end of his rehab and went under the knife for a second career saving operation.

In all, he was out of the game for the guts of two years.