Steve Clarke has issued a cautiously optimistic update on Aaron Hickey’s condition while naming his squad for the pre-Euro 2024 friendlies against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.

The versatile full-back has not played since picking up a hamstring injury in late October. His club side Brentford released news of a setback last month with manager Thomas Frank admitting they might not see him again this season. “Sometimes when players have been out for a while, I like to see them back on the grass before I make a guess on what’s possible,” said Frank.

Speaking at Hampden on Tuesday after naming a 25-man squad for the friendlies later this month, Scotland’s last games before a pre-tournament double-header against Gibraltar and Finland, Clarke reported that Hickey was “improving – slowly, but improving”. The Scotland manager added: “He should get a return to the grass early or mid-April. I am hopeful.”

Brentford's Aaron Hickey is not part of the current Scotland squad due to injury.

Callum McGregor’s absence with an Achilles problem is also giving both Celtic and Scotland cause for concern. Clarke suggested that the midfielder would be back after the international break. “That is the feedback I have had as well so fingers crossed on that one,” he said.

He sounded relatively sanguine about those who are currently sidelined. “Touch and go at the minute doesn’t bother me," said Clarke. "The ideal scenario is you get to the beginning of May and everyone is fit and available and I have got to make tough choices. That is the ideal. Historically people will tell you that you will probably lose one or two that you want to select to go to a tournament. So fingers crossed we don’t.”

Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack, meanwhile, was also absent from Clarke’s latest squad having pulled up before the Ibrox side’s Scottish Cup win away to Hibs on Sunday evening. It was reported he has a muscle strain. Jack missed out on Euro 2020 due to injury. “He is another one I had in my mind that I was going to select for this,” said Clarke. “Rangers were going to start him against Hibernian according to their manager Philippe Clement, but he has picked up another little niggle so he hasn’t made the squad. But he was in my mind to select for sure.”

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Scotland cautiously optimistic on Aaron Hickey prospects as Steve Clarke discusses Rangers absentee - 'he was in my mind'