As the Euros draw closer, Scotland’s national team receives disappointing news. Assistant coach John Carver confirms that three crucial players, including Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey, will miss the tournament due to injuries.
According to reports, Patterson sustained a hamstring tendon injury during Everton’s match against Chelsea last month, requiring surgery. Hickey, a Brentford full-back, also suffered a hamstring tendon issue post-match against Chelsea. He has been out of action since October last year. Add to that Lewis Ferguson’s ACL tear, and Scotland has lost three key players.
Addressing STV, assistant coach Carver said, “We’re talking about three pivotal players who have contributed significantly in the qualifiers and recently. The positive is that they are young and still have opportunities to participate in future World Cups or Euros. The national team won’t forget them.”
This leaves at least one vacancy in Scotland’s squad. Anthony Ralston stands as the sole option at right-back. The team is now considering alternatives like Stephen O’Donnell and James Forrest, both of whom have represented the national team before, albeit two and three years ago, respectively. Recently, Aberdeen’s Nicky Devlin, Chris Cadden, and Connor Barron have come under scrutiny.
Scotland finds itself in Group A for Euro 2024, alongside hosts Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary, with a challenging road to qualification ahead.