Hickey's Euro chances 'not fantastic' as Tierney suffers blow

Aaron Hickey's lack of game time is "not fantastic" for the injured right-back's chances of making Scotland's squad for the Euro 2024 finals, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has admitted.

The 21-year-old has not played since picking up his hamstring problem against Chelsea in October.

"He's progressing," Frank said while reiterating his belief that the defender will not feature for the Premier League club again this season.

"Because he's been out for so long, I'm not counting on it. Let's see what happens during the next couple of weeks, but I'm not expecting it."

With Nathan Patterson's Everton campaign also ended by a hamstring injury that requires surgery, national head coach Steve Clarke's squad could be short of right-back options for the summer tournament.

Asked about what it means for Hickey's chances of making the finals in Germany, Frank added: "I guess it's not fantastic, but that's not for me to judge."

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have revealed that on-loan Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has suffered a groin strain in training that means he will miss Friday's visit by La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

There was no indication of the severity of the "right adductor longus muscle injury", but such injuries can take anything from four to 14 weeks to heal.

Sociedad say Tierney has already started treatment and that "the return to normal activity will be gradual".

Clarke is already definitely without Lewis Ferguson for the Euros after the Bologna midfielder required surgery on a knee injury.

Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong will also not play for his club again this season, although club manager Russell Martin hopes the 32-year-old could yet recover from his quad muscle problem in time to make the Scotland squad.