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Could Aaron Hickey be Brentford's Answer in Midfield?
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- Could Aaron Hickey be Brentford's Answer in Midfield?
Two footed, composed in possession and a firm tackler - there has always been a feeling amongst many who have watched him that Aaron Hickey is a player with a skillset very well suited to operating in the middle of the park.
As Brentford head to the MKM Stadium to take on Hull City this weekend, a lot of the pre-match talk has revolved around how Keith Andrews' side will approach the game in the absence of both Vitaly Janelt and Yehor Yarmoliuk in midfield.
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Although the most likely scenario appears to be Mathias Jensen dropping back from an attacking midfield role to partner Mamadou Sangare in the pivot with Mikkel Damsgaard in front of them, the possibility that Aaron Hickey could be asked to partner Sangare in a bid to maintain a bit more defensive stability should not be ruled out.
Whilst a natural full back by trade, comfortable of operating at both right and left back, the versatility of Hickey has proved invaluable to head coach Keith Andrews in his time at the club, with the Scotsman even having filled in at centre back off the bench in the last two games against Aston Villa and Liverpool, impressing in both.
The 24-year-old was first given an opportunity in midfield away to Manchester City last season, playing 61 minutes and impressing at the Etihad Stadium despite the Bees eventually being defeated 3-0.
Aaron Hickey battles Nico O'Reilly in Brentford's defeat to Manchester City in May (Photo by Imago / Visionhaus)
Hickey's capability of operating in midfield had been a topic of conversation since his youth days. Former Heart of Midlothian defender and manager Craig Levein, who gave Hickey his debut for Hearts at the age of just 16, stated in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland in 2020 that he could see Hickey eventually becoming a midfielder, having already played there at times in his youth career with both Celtic and Hearts.
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"He's got really good defensive qualities, but I don't know if he'll end up being a full back, he might end up going back into midfield. He could be a fantastic holding midfielder with his great awareness of danger and his ability to get out of tight situations with the ball at his feet."
Andrews told Hickey prior to the Manchester City game that he believed the Scottish international was well-suited to playing in the centre of midfield because he can use both feet effectively, viewing his two-footedness as a crucial attribute for dictating play and retaining possession in the middle of the park.
Hickey was utilised in midfield again two weeks later, coming off the bench in Brentford's 1-1 draw to Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of the 2025/26 season.
Since then Hickey has operated in a more familiar right back position for the Bees this season prior to his two outings at centre back, scoring in the 6-1 defeat of Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup and even starting over Michael Kayode in the 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Aaron Hickey celebrating Brentford's equaliser in the 2-2 draw at AFC Bournemouth (Photo by Imago / Action Plus)
Speaking on Hickey's versatility and his season so far in his pre-match press conference, Keith Andrews said: "I just have this trust with Aaron that he can play in different positions because of his game intelligence."
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"He's in a really good rhythm, he's had a very good season. He'll be slightly disappointed he hasn't played more but I think, considering where Aaron's been on the injury front in recent seasons, the fact that he's been pretty much available throughout pre-season, every game, even going away with Scotland where he had a good camp, it's been a good season for Aaron and I have no doubt that he's going to impact it more and more as it goes on."
Hickey, who joined Brentford from Serie A side Bologna in the summer of 2022, has appeared in every single game across all competitions for Brentford so far this season, and is enjoying a much welcomed spell of availability having been troubled with injuries for a lot of his time in the club, which included a spell of over 18 months out of first team action after a significant hamstring injury suffered in October 2023.
With age still very much on his side at just 24, Hickey's importance is beginning to grow in the Brentford squad, and it will be intriguing to see where next his versatility and overall quality will be utilised by Keith Andrews, as Brentford look to build on a positive start to the Premier League season which has them currently sat in sixth place in the Premier League.
