Scotland defender Alan Hutton retires from international football

ALAN HUTTON has retired from international football.

The 31-year-old communicated his surprise decision to Scotland coach Gordon Strachan during discussions between the pair about Friday night’s World Cup qualifier against England.

He had missed the previous ties against Lithuania and Slovakia through injury but would have been handed a recall after returning to club action with Aston Villa.

Now, having won 50 caps over the course of nearly a decade, he will not be considered for future games.

“Alan has taken himself out of the frame to be an international player,” revealed Strachan.

“It was a wee bit out of the blue. But at this moment in time he doesn’t want to be in the frame to be selected.

“I spoke to him a couple of times. You just speak. I’m no psychoanalyst. I didn’t want to get that deep into it.

“Maybe he’s in a position now where he’s thinking: ‘How long is that? 10 years? Have I done enough?’

“You would need to ask him, really.”

Hutton’s timing is both unfortunate and somewhat ironic.

The former because, while the national coach has been able to welcome Scott Brown back into his ranks thanks to the Celtic captain’s U-turn on his international retiral, he has defensive problems.

Specifically at full-back with Kieran Tierney and Andrew Robertson, two left-sided players, both ruled out of the Wembley trip because of injury.

“I think you can look at the squad, and you can make your mind up if he would have had a chance to play. But we respect the decision,” said Strachan.

It’s ironic, because all the months Hutton was out in the cold at club level, Scotland kept playing him. Now playing for Villa again, he has opted to turn his back on his country.

The Scotland manager preferred to focus on the positive, which has been the emergence of Callum Paterson in Hutton’s right-back position.

“Callum has never let us down and I think he’s getting better and better,” said Strachan. “I really think he did all right in Slovakia.

“He gives you other things. He’s a presence in both boxes and he can put in a good cross.

“He’s learning his trade as a right-back. Unfortunately, it’s at the highest level in international football.

“But that will help him and will help Hearts. At the moment, we’re actually helping with European experience by putting players in who don’t get that with their clubs.”

Strachan has also defended striker Chris Martin, the target of boos from some sections of the Scotland support.

“I never picked it up after the last game but I remember being at Aberdeen and people couldn’t take to Billy Stark,” said Strachan.

“He was a player who scored goals and was elegant on the ball because, as Scots, we all want to be Billy Bremner, kicking lumps out of people and fighting the world.

“Chris has a lot going for him and he brings things to our team that others can’t.

“He doesn’t mind getting a kick. He’ll get back up and get on with it.

“His vision is terrific. If you ask the midfielders, they like playing with him because he looks after the ball.”