Hutton's fears disappear as London life spurs him on at a higher level

Carling Cup winners' medal settles player after reservations about leaving Rangers

THE impression that Alan Hutton was dragged kicking and screaming from Ibrox to complete his £9 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in January may have been wildly exaggerated in some quarters, but there is no doubt he did not make the move without considerable reservations.

Two months on, however, Hutton is a man completely at peace with his new environment as a first-team regular in the English Premier League. With a Carling Cup winners' medal already in his possession, the 23-year-old has no remaining doubts about his decision to leave the club he says will always remain his first footballing love.

Hutton appeared a more relaxed and assured figure than ever yesterday as he reacquainted himself with the Scottish press pack at Loch Lomond, preparing to win his seventh cap for his country in tomorrow night's friendly international against Croatia at Hampden.

He openly admits he would have preferred to stay with Rangers until the end of this season before moving on, but now accepts that a transfer which made outstanding business sense for the Ibrox club did in fact come at the right time for him.

"I've got no regrets," Hutton said. "At first, I was a bit wary of going down there but I'm happy I made the move. Just being involved in the games I have been already with Spurs in the first couple of months has been brilliant.

"There were a lot of things I had to think about when I was making the decision. It wasn't just about football, it was about my family and other factors too. Obviously I had grown up supporting Rangers before playing for them, so just leaving the club was a hard choice in itself.

"I had thought about whether I was ready for the move. In my head, I wanted to finish the season with Rangers before I went down. But I know I'm able to cope with the pressures in the big games and I'm just glad to be playing my football down there now.

"It was a lot of money for a right-back, so I can understand why Rangers accepted it. It's a business at the end of the day. They are happy, I'm happy, so it's not a problem.

"I wasn't holding off for something else as some people suggested. I never knew anything about the reported interest from Manchester United. I was only taking my time because I felt it was a massive decision for myself and my family."

That family was extended last week when Hutton's partner, Kylie, gave birth to the couple's second son. Leon was born in Glasgow as Hutton made sure he was a native Scot along with his two-year-old brother Louie.

Relocating to the south of England was a major concern for Hutton, but Juande Ramos, the Spurs manager, had given him assurances the club would give him every assistance to make the transition as smooth as possible.

"The manager was brilliant with me," he said. "Before I signed, he said that if I needed time off at any point then my family came first. So I was able to come back up to make sure Leon was born in Scotland last week. That was important to me.

"It's been a really good move all round. I've settled in quickly and all of my team-mates have helped me along the way. Spurs are a really good team, they like to play football. I've been able to go out and play without any pressure.

"There is obviously a better standard of football in the Premier League. In terms of concentration, you have to be on your toes every second of every game. If you switch off, then the type of player down there can go by you in an instant. Overall, I think I have coped with it well.

"It hasn't curbed my attacking instincts, but you do have to know more when you can and cannot go forward. If you make a run forward that's not on, then you can get punished by just one pass in behind you. You are going to become quicker-thinking as a player and that's one of the reasons I went down there.

"Obviously you want to win things in your career and to win the Carling Cup at Wembley in only my third game was a brilliant experience. Hopefully there will be more to come. The manager has big plans for Spurs, he wants to take them forward and challenge at the top of the Premier League. With the squad we will have next season, hopefully we will be able to do something.

"He likes to go into tactics a lot more than other managers I have played for. He wants everyone to know exactly what they are doing on the park. When, where, how, you have to know exactly what is expected of you."

When Hutton was on the end of Ashley Cole's reckless challenge during last Wednesday's epic 4-4 draw between Spurs and Chelsea, his participation for Scotland this week seemed in doubt, but he fortunately avoided injury and was in forgiving mood towards the controversial England defender yesterday.

"To be fair, it happened so quickly that I didn't even think I could have a bad injury," said Hutton. "It looked worse than it really was. Yes, it was a high challenge, but the ball was in the air and it was one of those things that happens all the time in football.

"It's not a problem. I spoke to Ashley Cole after the game and he told me it wasn't meant. I knew that anyway. He didn't try and hurt me, he just went for the ball."

Hutton may yet end this season with another winners' medal, the 20 games he played for Rangers in the SPL entitling him to one if his former team-mates go on to claim the championship. He welcomes the prospect and also eyes the day when he perhaps returns to play for them again.

"I don't see why not," he said. "Rangers is a club I love and I would love to play for them again one day. You never know what could happen, maybe I'll be back in the future, maybe not. It would be something to win medals with clubs in different countries in the same season."

TWO MORE FRIENDLIES
SCOTLAND will play two more friendly matches ahead of next season's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

It was announced yesterday that George Burley's side will face the Czech Republic in Prague on 30 May – a Friday night – and then host Northern Ireland at Hampden on 20 August – a Wednesday – as preparation for the first qualifying match away to Macedonia in September. As part of the agreement with the Czechs, there will be reciprocal fixture at Hampden Park on 3 March 2010.

"I wanted a good away game and they don't come much tougher than the Czech Republic, so that will be a big test," said Burley. "Then we'll have the home game against Northern Ireland, so it's a good build-up for the World Cup qualifiers."