ALS INTERVIEW: ALAN HUTTON

This morning we spoke to Alan Hutton about his loan spell at Sunderland, how the Lads are doing this season, his thoughts on the Scottish Premiership title race and how he's feeling ahead of Scotland's World Cup 2026 campaign. Alan may have only played 11 games for us but this was a good opportunity to catch up with a former Sunderland player who was popular during his short stay here. Of course, we had to ask him about the time he bounced the ball off Jozy Altidore and received a headbutt for his troubles! Hutton spoke in association with Spreadex Sports.

TIME AT SAFC

“To be honest, I absolutely loved it. It was a situation where I was kind of in and out of the team at Spurs. I had a bad injury, came back and Vedran Ćorluka was playing really well. I was still young and I felt that I needed to play every single week, so my agent came to me and mentioned Sunderland as an option. I was very close friends with Darren Bent who was there at the time, and he told me how good it was and how the manager at the time was brilliant. There was a young core group of players in there that he thought I’d get on with, especially with the way they tried to play football. So, it was a no brainer for me and I’m glad I made that choice at the time.”

STEVE BRUCE

“It wasn’t really until I went through to the training ground that I met the manager for the first time and we hit it off really well. That’s how the relationship develops. When I knew how well we got on, like I say, it was a no brainer.”

LOAN WASN’T MADE PERMANENT

“It was a shame for me as well. I genuinely wanted it to happen. I’ve never been in an environment where I felt so comfortable in such a short period of time, even with the manager. He had a relationship with all the players. He would come into the changing room and have a laugh and a joke, then when it was time to be serious he was. I’d never really experienced that before so it was something I wanted to continue with. It’s such a big club, when you look at the stadium, the training ground, the players at the time, they were going in the right direction but unfortunately it just didn’t quite work out.”

THOUGHTS ON THIS SEASON

“I think it’s been an excellent first season back in the Premier League. There was a big turnover in players at the start of the season, a lot of younger players coming in inexperienced which can make it kind of difficult. It’s all about solidifying your place back in the Premier League and I think they’ve done that really, really well.”

HOW TO KICK ON

“I think it’s now quality over quantity. If they can add a certain amount of quality, particularly at the top end of the pitch because I don’t think they score enough goals. I think defensively they’re okay but if they can get a few gamechangers in who can really hit the ground running and put the ball in the back of the net regularly then I think that takes them onto the next stage.”

SPFL

“I’m hoping Hearts win it, just so Celtic don’t! That’s my first thing. It’s been an incredible season, I must admit. I don’t think I’ve seen this in my lifetime where it’s been this close - I put Rangers in that, right until the league split and they’ve fallen away. But how things have worked out, how good Hearts have been but also Motherwell and Falkirk… even the relegation battle at the bottom has been brilliant and interesting. Long may this continue because for Scottish football, it puts more eyes on it and people are talking about it. On the radio they’re talking about Hearts and that can only be good.”

WORLD CUP

“Really excited about it. Back to back Euros and now back in the World Cup, it’s been a long period of time. What they went through in terms of the Euros, even though they haven’t been great results-wise, I think it stands them in good stead moving into this tournament. I think the first game against Haiti is huge, if you can get a result there then it kicks you on to Morocco and then Brazil. It’s going to be difficult, of course it is and I know that. A lot of outsiders won’t expect us to do well, but there’s a great opportunity there.”

SURPRISE PLAYERS?

“I think Ben Gannon-Doak is a player who excites a lot of fans at this moment in time. I know he’s had his injuries and has been in and out of the team at Bournemouth but if they can get him up to speed he gives you something a little bit different. When I look at Scotland as a whole, it’s more that the team is the star rather than individuals. I think they’re strong in midfield and Gilmour can come in there, you’ve got more flair players like Christie at Bournemouth who can make things happen. But everybody has to be at the top of their game for the team to really shine. Hopefully that can be the case.”

CRAIG GORDON

“It’s an interesting one because when he was fit, he may not have been playing regularly for Hearts but he played a huge part in the qualifiers and I think that tells you the thinking of Steve Clarke. He likes him and wants him to be there, his experience obviously speaks for itself. The big thing for him is that he’s had a shoulder injury which has kept him out for large periods. If he can prove his fitness then I think he’ll be in the back of the manager’s mind, to bring him for experience. Angus Gunn has done well but after that you’re looking at Scott Bain and Liam Kelly, who haven’t got a lot of experience. So, to have someone like Craig Gordon in the squad I think could help.”

MIX OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH

“I actually quite like the mix of the squad. I know that when you look at some of it, they might ply their trade in the Championship or wherever else, but they’ve been involved with the squad for a number of seasons now and have been involved in the Euros. I think that helps you grow both as a player and as a squad together. I think the blend is quite good. Of course you would like every single player to be playing at the highest level possible but unfortunately that’s not the case. I like the way the squad is at the moment.”

HULL AWAY, ALTIDORE RED...

“To be honest, I don’t even know why I did it! After it happened I realised the size of Altidore and thought “I’m in bother here!” It comes up from time to time and I’ve seen the incident, I can’t see us being friends moving forward. It was one of those strange reactions. I remember the ball went out of play and it ended up in my hand for some reason, and I’ve just kind of threw it down at him. It was one of those weird things - I don’t even know why I did it.”

CAREER RED CARDS/VAR

“I can only think off the top of my head two or three reds, and I think for me as a player that’s actually doing quite well. If I was playing in this era with VAR, I’d be in a lot more bother.”