Former Hearts manager Craig Levein says the preparation for the 2019 Scottish Cup final truly showed him Aaron Hickey's mentality after the Scotland international star passed out on the bus.
Two-footed left-back, Hickey, has signed for Premier League club Brentford after a couple of successful seasons in Italy with Bologna, who he joined from Hearts in 2020. His first senior club will net a tidy sell-on fee from Hickey's transfer after his fast rise up the football ladder.
Levein arguably helped the 20-year-old with his meteoric rise in handing him a maiden first-team start away to Celtic. He then started him in the Scottish Cup final the following week three years ago.
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And Levein is not surprised to see his former player rise up the ranks. Speaking to Off the Ball, the ex-boss hailed his 'stellar' career trajectory.
He said: "The interesting thing is, Aaron's actually right footed, everyone thinks he's left footed. But he's that good with both feet.
"There have not been many players that I've played with or managed who are genuinely as equally as balanced on either side. I gave him his debut.
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"He played so well we played him at Celtic Park a week before the cup final. So that made up my mind about putting him into the team for the final and he was fabulous.
"He's so calm he fell asleep on the bus going to the cup final -16 year old playing in the cup final and he fell asleep.
"I've had phone calls from a number of Premier League clubs in the last year looking for a character reference on him. His career trajectory has just ben stellar.
"I'm sure he could go to Arsenal or wherever and get more money. But I'm sure he's going to Brentford because he knows he's going to play."
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