Hickey primarily played for Hearts as a left-back, although he can also play as a central midfielder, and also right-back and centre-back, and his "versatility is yet another key attribute". Hickey has been compared to fellow Scottish left-back Andy Robertson, although Hickey has played down the links. He mainly played for Bologna as an attacking left wing-back, and scored five goals during the 2021–22 Serie A season. Brentford have used him as either a right-back or right wing-back, Most of his appearances for Scotland have also been as a right-back or right wing-back. Former Hearts manager Craig Levein described Hickey by saying that "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". Levein has also said that Hickey is shy, quiet, and reserved. Hearts captain Steven Naismith praised Hickey's intelligence, while Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson praised his maturity, saying that "he's like a 24- or 25-year-old in an 18-year-old's body [...] he's very mature for his age, he's composed, has good physique, ticks all the boxes".

From English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA