Aaron Hickey has been called up to the Scotland Under 19 squad for the first time.
The left back has been included in Billy Stark’s 18-man pool for a friendly double header against Japan next month.
The Hearts youngster will join the rest of the young Scots for both game sin Pinatar, Spain on Thursday 5 and Monday 9 September before they kick-off their UEFA qualifying campaign in October.
Hickey has been the cause of much excitement amongst fans at Tynecastle since he was a shock starter in last May’s William Hill Scottish Cup final against Celtc while still only 16.
He has impressed virtually every time he’s pulled on the maroon jersey since, although was sent off in Hearts’ opening Ladbrokes Premiership defeat away to Aberdeen.
Manager Craig Levein admitted he’d never seen a young player as two-footed as Hickey and has already made him a regular member of his first team squad.
He'll compete with the more experienced Aidy White for the starting spot on the left-hand side of the Hearts back line now the Irishman has returned to fitness after two years out.
He is joined in the Scotland Under 19 squad by former Hearts academy teammate Marc Leonard.
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