Serie A star Aaron Hickey wants to gatecrash Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad by forcing his way into Steve Clarke’s plans.
The teenage Bologna full-back, who moved to Italy from Hearts in September, is now a regular starter for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side.
Hickey has yet to be capped at Under-21 level yet, having pulled out their latest squad with a groin strain.
But the 18-year-old insists he’s ready to challenge the likes of skipper Andy Robertson and Arsenal ace Kieran Tierney for a place in Clarke’s Euro pool next summer.
Hickey said: “It’s definitely in the back of my mind to try and get into the Scotland squad with the Euros coming up.
“I’d love to play for Scotland. But I’ve got Robertson and Tierney ahead of me.
“So I’ll need to work hard and keep my head down over here. But I’d love to be picked for my country.
“I’m a bit off Robertson and Tierney right now but I’ve only just started here in Italy and I know I need more games.
“Andy has won a Champions League and Kieran is at Arsenal having also played at Celtic.
“So I just need to keep going and see where it takes me. If I’m doing well here, hopefully I’ll get picked for Scotland.
“I can also play right back as well, which isn’t too much different for me.”
Hickey watched Scotland’s night of glory in Serbia from his new home in Northern Italy.
Clarke’s men clinched a Euros berth with a nail-biting penalty shoot out win in Belgrade.
And the Glaswegian says even Bologna’s medical team were supporting the Scots.
He said: “It was brilliant going into training after watching the Scotland game in Serbia.
“I had a wee problem with my groin that morning so I was in the physio’s room.
“The physio – who doesn’t speak any English – came in with his fists clenched shouting: ‘Scotland’.
“That was really funny and I was buzzing for the team getting to the Euros.”
