HUTTON QUITS SCOTLAND

ASTON VILLA’S former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton has announced his retirement from Scotland international duty.

The defender was absent from the squad to face England in Friday’s World Cup qualifier at Wembley and it has emerged he had asked manager Gordon Strachan to be excluded.

The 31-year-old, who has won 50 caps, failed to regain his place from Hearts’ Callum Paterson for last month’s double header against Lithuania and Slovakia after pulling out of the previous two squads through injury.

Hutton, who also played for Spurs and Sunderland, said: “I feel this is the right time to spend more time with my family, put everything I have professionally into doing well at Villa and give others a chance for Scotland.

“I’ve had a really enjoyable nine years with Scotland and would like to think I have done my bit for my country.

“I’d like to thank all the managers I have played under, especially Gordon for sticking by me when I wasn’t a club regular.

“We had a couple of good chats over the last few weeks and I appreciate his understanding. I wish both Gordon and the team all the best for the future.”

Strachan admitted: “Alan Hutton has taken himself out of the frame to be an international player. Was it out the blue? A wee bit.

“He’s maybe in a position now where he’s thinking: ‘How long is that? Ten years? Have I done enough?’ We respect everyone’s decision.”

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