SCOTLAND have been dealt an injury blow with the news that Aaron Hickey will be out until after the World Cup.
Of course, Steve Clarke's side will not be in Qatar in one-month's time.
However, his men do face a friendly match against Turkey in November.
This would have presented Clarke with another opportunity to see what Hickey could do in the starting XI after impressing against Ireland and Ukraine.
They'll need to try somebody else in the right or left-wing back positions, though, with the 20-year-old ruled out with injury until mid-December.
The 20-year-old moved to the Premier League in the summer from Bologna for a fee believed to be around £18million.
He's enjoyed a good start to life in London, turning out as a regular starter for the Bees.
He'd featured in all of their league matches this season until he was forced to sit out the 2-0 win over Brighton due to an ankle injury picked up in training.
Confirming the bad news, Thomas Frank said: "Unfortunately, it's not short term.
"He will be out until the World Cup as well (as teammate Pontus Jansson).
"He twisted his ankle and the ligament has been damaged."
