Aaron Hickey admits he's living the dream in the Scotland camp - even though he thought his call-up was "mental".
Hickey got the nod from Steve Clarke for the double header against Poland and Austria on the back of his impressive form for Bologna in Serie A.
The left-back had courted controversy for pulling out of Under 21 squads but was handed his top team chance against the Poles and didn’t look out of place in a 23 minute cameo off the bench.
Now he could be in line for a second cap against Austria as he looks to nail down a squad place ahead of June's World Cup play-offs. And Hickey said: “It was amazing for me and my family to make my debut.
“It’s a dream come true to play for my country.
“I was warming up and Naisy (coach Steven Naismith ) said I was coming on. I took my bib off and I thought ‘this is it!’
“It’s something I have wanted to do since I was a young kid, so it was amazing.
“When I saw the news I was selected I was shocked. I tried to stay calm but I wasn’t.
“I thought it was mental that I had been called up and that I would get to play in front of the fans. I was amazed.
“I just thought this is what I have been playing and training for, for this opportunity to play for my country.
“It’s been good to meet all the boys and we have some top players in there and it’s good to chat to them and train with them.
“It’s a good experience for me and I am trying to take in as much as I can.”
In terms of left-backs the 19-year-old has two of the best to learn from in Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney.
And Hickey said: “Andy is just class isn’t he?
“Watching him in training was great and getting to play alongside him.
“We have Kieran Tierney as well and he was great to me against Poland and he spoke to me all the time to try and help me.
“He kept me calm and that helped me a lot.
“We have a really close knit group and the standard in training is great and it’s so competitive.
“The manager has been great with me and he helped me to settle in.
“He’s helping me in training as well.”
Hickey was only 18 when he made the brave move to leave Hearts for Bologna.
It’s paid dividends as he has become a mainstay in Sinisa Mihajlovic’s side with his impressive performances attracting serious interest from AC Milan.
And he reckons the whole experience has helped him grow as a player and a person.
He said: “When I was moving to Bologna I hoped to get some game time.
“When I first arrived I got a few games then I got Covid and a few injuries.
“This season I have managed to crack on I’ve played in nearly every game which has been good.
“I just have to keep going now.
“Off the pitch I feel I have grown up a lot.
“I live by myself and football wise I have had a different side to it.
“It’s been good for me and I have learned about lifestyle and football.
“The dressing room in Italy is a lot different and the manager doesn’t really speak English.
“But a few of the younger boys can speak Italian and English and at the start it was quite hard.
“But I got used to it and living away from home. It was in lockdown and that made it harder.
“I am over it now and this year has been much better for me.”
