Hickey was a stand-out within the profitable Euro 2024 qualifying marketing campaign when Scotland gained their first 5 matches.
With the likes of Serie A's most useful participant, Scott McTominay, within the ranks, together with Hickey's former schoolmate, Ben Gannon Doak, recent from a multi-million pound transfer to Bournemouth, can Scotland hope to finish their lengthy look forward to a World Cup place?
“You have to imagine in your self,” Hickey mentioned. “I am fairly positive all the opposite gamers know that we are able to do it – it is nearly believing within the crew.
“It goes together with the followers getting proper behind us, as they assist us massively in each recreation.
“We've lots of good people. We simply all want to mix collectively and work laborious for one another.”
For Hickey and the remainder of the squad, it could not simply be a case of ending a 28-year exile from the best present on earth. He's very clear about what it could imply to him to get to the Americas in the summertime of 2026.
“It is all the pieces that I've labored for,” he mentioned. “I am fairly positive it is everybody's dream to play in a World Cup. It will be the proudest second of my profession.”
It will be extra-sweet given one in all his lowest factors was having to overlook out on final 12 months's Euro finals in Germany.
“I used to be near coming again after which I had one other drawback,” he defined. “That was gutting for me.
“However you'll want to have lows to have highs. This has been one in all my lows, with the damage – now I am aiming for some highs. Qualifying for the World Cup, enjoying for Scotland, enjoying for Brentford. Simply to be again enjoying.”
