Hibs' Chris Cadden in dark on Scotland Euro 2024 chances but will not be disrespectful over priorities

Chris Cadden has been capped by Scotland in the past.

The right-back has emerged as a candidate for squad after latest injuries

Hibs defender Chris Cadden would love the chance to represent Scotland again, although he has “no idea” whether he is under consideration for a surprise late call-up to the Euro 2024 squad.

The 27-year-old has emerged as a potential dark horse for a place in Steve Clarke’s 26-man pool as first-choice right-backs Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson are both facing the prospect of missing the tournament through injury. The former Under-21 international has two full caps to his name from friendlies against Peru and Mexico in 2018.

Asked if he still retained hope of further Scotland recognition, Cadden said: “Of course. I was brought up that Scotland is the pinnacle of your career, that’s where you want to be. I’ll always have aspirations of playing for Scotland, no matter how close or far away I am. That was one of my ambitions growing up. You know when you’re in or around Scotland squads, you’re doing alright. I absolutely loved being in the Scotland Under-21s, going and representing my country.”

Cadden – who returned in February following a lengthy lay-off with an Achilles injury – has been loosely mentioned as a possible right-back option for Scotland’s Euros squad along with the likes of Bristol City’s Ross McCrorie and Motherwell’s Stephen O’Donnell. “You don’t get mentioned if you’re not doing well so it’s obviously great to get mentioned,” he said. “But I don’t know, I’ve not heard anything. I’m coming back from injury, I’ve got things to focus on at Hibs. It doesn’t give me any extra edge or anything like that, I think that would be disrespectful to Hibs. I’m going to try as hard as I possibly can, Euros or not. I’ll go and do the best I can for Hibs and see where it takes me.

Cadden has started seven of Hibs’ last eight matches since returning from injury. “I feel really good fitness-wise,” he said. “My Achilles is an afterthought, really. The big thing for me was that I didn’t want to come back and look like I’d been injured, where people look at you and go ‘he’s came back too early’. I thought I looked OK when I first came back which was great. I just want to keep going. I feel like I’m getting better with every game.”

Cadden paid tribute to Lewis Stevenson and Paul Hanlon after it was revealed this week that the long-serving duo will both leave Easter Road after making more than 1000 appearances for Hibs between them. “We’ve been talking about it a lot the last few days, they’ll be truly missed by everyone about the place,” he said. “You’re never in the place without them here. They’ve been so good for me on a personal level, I’ve got good friendships with the two of them outside the football. Everybody speaks about how good they are as a people, but as players as well, I’ve learned a lot from them. It’s not by accident that they’ve played here for so long. Most managers have picked them most weeks and it’s because of the hard work and dedication they’ve put in.”