Hickey on birthday cake and early bond with Gannon-Doakpublished at 18:52 BST 10 June
18:52 BST 10 June
Amy Canavan BBC Sport Scotland at Atrium Health Performance Park, North Carolina
Image source, PA Media
There are worse ways to spend your 24th birthday than at your country's first World Cup base camp in 28 years, even if you can't tuck into any cake.
Politely passing on the sugary gift from the Fifa broadcasters, Aaron Hickey admits it's a dream come true just to be here.
Being part of this Scotland squad is a fantastic achievement for all, but it maybe resonates a little more for the full-back who missed out on Euro 2024 through injury.
And he admitted there was an emphasis on "managing his minutes" at Brentford during another injury-hit season, with "the bigger picture" in sight.
"It definitely makes you stronger, mentally," Hickey said of his experiences with injuries.
"Now that I'm sitting here, thinking back about how hard it was, there were tough, tough times, but now I'm just happy to be here, trying not to focus on the past and to focus on my football."
Hickey managed just eight Premier League starts in 2025-26, but is a first pick for Scotland head coach Steve Clarke.
The former Hearts and Bologna defender certainly caught the eye in Saturday's warm-up win against Bolivia, combining well with Ben Gannon-Doak down the right flank.
"It's exciting for myself, playing with Doaky," he explained. "He's a clever young player.
"We're still getting used to each other, what we do and how we link up.
"It's been good getting to know him better as a person and the link up has been good, so we're looking forward to the games."
With the Scottish media circling the untouched cake, a smiling Hickey left saying: "I'll not eat it, honest. Help yourselves, it smells amazing."
McKenna only absentee from Scotland trainingpublished at 16:16 BST 10 June
16:16 BST 10 June
Jane Lewis BBC Sport Scotland in Charlotte, North Carolina
Image source, Getty Images
The Scotland squad were back in training on Wednesday after a day off and all the players were involved with the exception of defender Scott McKenna.
The Dinamo Zagreb centre-back has not trained yet this week, so it wasn't a surprise and it's understood his issue isn't too serious.
On their day off, some of the squad spent time with a local American football side, taking in their practice and getting to chat to some of their players.
Gordon puts future on hold until after World Cuppublished at 23:29 BST 9 June
23:29 BST 9 June
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Craig Gordon says he is putting his future beyond the World Cup finals on hold until Scotland's campaign is over.
The 43-year-old goalkeeper, who is out of contract with Hearts, has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by reaching the biggest stage of all, 22 years after making his international debut against Trinidad and Tobago at Easter Road in 2004.
He will be the oldest player at the tournament in North America.
Asked if he knew what his future holds, Gordon, who signed a one-year deal at Tynecastle last summer and who has fought back from an injury-disrupted season, said: "No, not yet. I'm just enjoying the moment.
"It's been a tough year to get to this point, to get myself in the position physically to be able to compete at this level.
"I feel as if I am there now. I feel good.
"We'll see once the tournament's finished. I'll have a little break after that and see what happens."
Asked about potential retirement, Gordon said: "There will come that moment, whether that's now or whether that's next year. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.
"At the moment, I'm doing everything I possibly can to be at the top level I can be at. The future will take care of itself after that."
Gordon thought World Cup chance 'would pass me by'published at 17:23 BST 9 June
17:23 BST 9 June
Jane Lewis BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Media caption,
'I thought this opportunity had passed me by' - Gordon
Scotland veteran Craig Gordon admits he thought he had missed his chance to play at a World Cup finals.
Now 43, the out-of-contract Hearts goalkeeper will be the oldest player at this summer's tournament - and the second oldest ever - having come through a series of injury setbacks throughout his long career.
"Oh, without a doubt I thought this opportunity would pass me by on more than one occasion," Gordon said.
"So to finally be here, to be part of something this big, to finally see it, it's a huge moment for any player in their career.
"And especially for me. For the many years, I've been trying to get here, to finally be here on the edge of the tournament starting properly. It's a fantastic feeling.
"It feels like it's getting real now. The first few weeks have been preparation, everything's been going really well. And now we're finally here, we're the last few days away from getting into the games for real now."
Nottingham Forest's Angus Gunn played the full 90 minutes of Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolivia, while Gordon and Rangers' Liam Kelly played a half each in the previous 4-1 defeat of Curacao.
However, Gordon says head coach Steve Clarke has not dropped any hints about who will be the number one pick for the World Cup.
"There's been no indication," he insisted while stressing he feels the squad is "ready".
A key factor to that is the special bond the players have, plus the blend of experience and youth.
"I think that's been growing for the last few years," Gordon added. "The squad, both on and off the pitch, has just been getting better and better.
"And for me to see these young guys coming through really shows what the future holds for the national team. So it's great to see them coming in and know that the future is also going to be strong.
"It feels as if we're strong now, but also these guys coming in and getting a taste of it at this early age is only going to stand them in good stead for their careers and their futures and the good of the national team as a whole."
McGinn a certain starter for Scotland - Adampublished at 13:02 BST 9 June
13:02 BST 9 June
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Image caption,
John McGinn (left) played a half for Scotland against Bolivia
Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam says John McGinn is "a certain starter" in the World Cup opener against Haiti.
Aston Villa midfielder McGinn, 31, was left out of the starting line-up in Saturday's 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia, coming on as a second-half substitute.
"John McGinn's a certain starter for me," Adam told BBC Radio Scotland.
"He's been terrific for Scotland, amassed over 80 caps, it's incredible. He'll be a focal point for us in the team.
"He'll drive the team with his energy and his real athleticism that he's got and powerful running so I expect him to play and be a big part in what Scotland's going to do in the next two to three weeks."
Adam also expects John Souttar and Scott McKenna to make up Scotland's central defence. Souttar came on for the final 10 minutes against Bolivia while McKenna did not feature.
"McKenna and Souttar are the ones for me," Adam said. "It gives you nice balance. They've played a lot together recently and hopefully they can get a clean sheet and build on that and that's how we can win that first game and give us the confidence to go forward.
"If we can win that then it gives us a good stepping stone. I expect Brazil to win the group, win every game. The Moroccans are not going to be easy either.
"There's no easy game. This Haiti game will not be easy but I expect us to get through it. Four points would be expectational to get us to the knockout stages."
Clarke protecting herd & Shankland must start - Doolanpublished at 12:48 BST 9 June
12:48 BST 9 June
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Image caption,
Lawrence Shankland at Scotland training on Monday
Kris Doolan believes Scotland head coach Steve Clarke's first priority is to "protect the herd".
A training-ground friendly with Norway on Monday was cancelled, with Clarke saying "it wasn't worth the risk". Norway head coach Stale Solbakken said Clarke was "unprofessional".
"This happens at club level a lot if they're arranging behind closed doors games," former Partick Thistle manager Doolan told the BBC's latest Scottish Football Podcast.
"Things change, plans change, things within the squad. The manager's job is to protect the herd. That's what Steve Clarke's doing."
Meanwhile, Doolan believes Lawrence Shankland should start Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti on Sunday after three goals in his past two international appearances.
Rangers' latest signing opened the scoring in Saturday's 4-0 win over Bolivia, with Che Adams netting twice. Lyndon Dykes set up one of Shankland's goals in the 4-1 defeat of Curacao and George Hirst is also in the World Cup squad.
"He doesn't want four strikers all the same and I think he's chosen well," former striker Doolan said of head coach Clarke.
"The two boys, Shankland and Che Adams, to use a phrase, they've timed their run well because they've just scored the goals. That's got everybody wanting them to play together.
"They've showed that they can play together. I think they're the two we'll start with. I believe it's Shankland and A.N other. We only have to create one or two really good chances and he's the guy who can finish."
Image source, Getty Images
