Alan Hutton on his injury and on his return and on Scotland

[Boab 73]

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has said it, Jose Mourinho has declared it, now Alan Hutton wants to prove it.

The Scotland star is getting itchy feet - and it's not been caused by the stookie wrapped around the stress fracture that has kept him on the sidelines this season.

Hutton wants to get back and he wants to get back quickly.

Scotland's most expensive footballer has plenty to live up to but knows he's not going to fulfil it being stuck in the gym at Spurs' Chigwell training base in Essex.

Hutton's explosion on to the international and club scene and £9million transfer from Rangers to White Hart Lane has catapulted his status in the game.

Manchester United boss Fergie suggested last week that at the age of 23 the Scot is the best right-back in Britain.

Mourinho, no less, took time out from coaching InterMilan to name Hutton in his fantasy English Premiership team at the start of the season.

But these accolades don't matter to the Spurs ace. Not unless he can get on to a pitch and prove these two managerial greats correct.

He said: "Obviously, it is one of the biggest compliments you can get when people of that stature speak well of you.

"To be honest, it is all very well being spoken highly of by the top managers but the one thing I want to do is get out on to a football pitch and starting proving it for Scotland and Spurs. I need to get back playing the way I know I can before I can really accept these things.

"It doesn't add any pressure to me because it is not something I think about or take on to the field with me. But I know what I can produce and I just want to get a strip back on, play each game and forget all the things that have gone before."

It's been a slow process but at last, an end is in sight. Hutton's progress at Spurs made him an automatic choice and he was looking forward to starting a first full season when the injury nightmare struck.

To make matters worse he has had to sit in the stand while his club made a disastrous start to the season. The London giants are bottom of the Premiership and coach Juande Ramos is coming under increased scrutiny from some fans.

Hutton's return will, without question, make a difference to the Spurs team. But it will also allow the ex-Ibrox star to finally get his life back. He said: "Football is my job.

When you are robbed of the opportunity to play it can be hard.

"I admit it's not been easy but things are progressing and I am coming on quite well.

It's pretty much going as planned and I'm looking forward to getting back out there.

"It is a silly wee injury, to be honest, but at least I can now see some light at the end of the tunnel.

"I didn't know what was going to happen at first when I went to see the specialist.

Rest seemed to be the answer as I thought I just had a wee problem with my ankle. But it turned out to be a stress fracture and that was frustrating as sometimes a broken leg can heal faster.

"But I have had knocks before and I have always managed to come back so that is what I'm looking for again."

Ramos has lost out but so, too, have Scotland. Coach George Burley has been unable to call on Hutton for the opening stages of his World Cup campaign and it has hurt.

His former clubmate, Barry Ferguson, has been a major miss for Burley in the opening miles of the Road to South Africa.

But arguably Hutton's absence has cut deeper.

The Spurs man has hated the fact he's not been able to assist having swept on to the scene under previous boss Alex McLeish.

In fact, it was the player's magnificent performance against Italy in the Euro 2008 qualification decider at Hampden 10 months ago which finally convinced Premiership suitors to make concrete bids for him.

But at the start of the 2010 run, Hutton was stuck on the couch back home in Scotland with his old man.

He said: "It was tough just to sit and watch the first two games.

"I came back home and sat and watched them with my dad but knowing I could have been there contributing instead of sitting in front of the TV made it worse.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching the Scotland team because I am a fan, too.

"But it is tough to take when you are stuck on the sidelines and not able to help out.

"The first game against Macedonia was hard. Some people may have thought that Scotland just had to turn up to win but that was never realistic. Going there with the heat and the standard of opposition was always going to be a tough ask.

"The team lost and were criticised but they answered back perfectly by going to Iceland and getting a positive result.

"That has set us up for the home game against Norway and we are really looking to take three points from that to kick on."

Hutton looks unlikely to take part against the Norwegians but that will not prevent him from being determined to see his nation gain a valuable triumph.

Being a Scot in an English dressing room has been difficult in recent times due to the contrasting recent fortunes of the national teams.

The Scots' failure to reach any of the past five major finals rankles with the punters and the current squad and everyone is desperate to put it right. Hutton, in particular.

With England players such as Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and Ledley King looking set for South Africa under the managerial guidance of Fabio Capello, Hutton doesn't want to be left behind when the planes take off for Africa. He added: "I can't have that."

Burley - and Sir Alex - will be pleased with such talk.

http://www.<No links to this website>/football/scot...86908-20753776/

[papaguy51 912]

I'm personally amazed that SAF didn't sign him up as Neville's replacement.

He's a much better right back than Wes Brown.

[British and Proud 0]

I'm personally amazed that SAF didn't sign him up as Neville's replacement.

He's a much better right back than Wes Brown.

Neville's not done by a long shot

[rangers4eva 12]

I'm personally amazed that SAF didn't sign him up as Neville's replacement.

He's a much better right back than Wes Brown.

Neville's not done by a long shot

aye he is