Scottish Daily Mail

Hutton will put friends and rivalries aside in heat of battle

- JOHN GREECHAN

OLD FRIENDS and rivals, pitched to get her in the serious business of trying to qualify for a major finals. Still able to appreciate each other as profession­als and even team-mates at club level, yet willing to do whatever it takes to get the win.

Alan Hutton will approach tomorrow’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Dublin, the archetypal internatio­nal derby, well aware of the battle that lies in wait.

Everything he knows about this Republic of Ireland team, their players and their manager — which is plenty, unsurprisi­ngly — tells him that Scotland are in for a tea-time scrap at the Aviva Stadium.

The Aston Villa right-back will step on to the pitch wary of the trickery of former Old Firm foe Aiden McGeady, hoping he does not see Robbie Keane in action and fully prepared to have the last laugh on Republic of Ireland goalie Shay Given, the funny man of the Villa Park dressing room.

‘This game will definitely be up there with any game I’ve played for Scotland — it’s one of the biggest games, with everything so tight in the group,’ said Hutton.

‘I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there is certainly a little bit extra when it comes to the rivalry at internatio­nal level; when you are playing England or Ireland, it feels different.

‘ Everyone k nows how important the game is and I’d imagine there will be nervous moments. It will be about who can deal with it better.

‘Will it be a battle? That’s normal. When you look at games between Scotland, England and Ireland, we are all very passionate. We know what is at stake and we want to do well.

‘A lot of the boys play against each other and you want the bragging rights. This game will be no different. It won’t be anything over the top — we just want to win.

‘We’re very similar in terms of squads and players, so it’s more evenly balanced, which makes it more intense. But it’s not like we’re playing against players who are unknown. Everyone knows what their qualities are.’

Hutton is familiar with a number of the Irish players, with current club- mate Given and f ormer Spurs team-mate Keane the two he is closest to in a squad that also contains regular opponent McGeady, of Everton.

Admitting that he was thrilled when 34- year- old LA Galaxy captain Keane was benched for Scotland’s 1-0 win at Celtic Park i n November, Hutton said of Ireland’s all-time leading scorer: ‘He’s a fantastic player, up there with the best I’ve played with.

‘His movement is very good, you turn your back and he knows where to go. That’s experience for you, he’s in the right place at the right time.

‘It was a shock when he didn’t start at Parkhead. He’s one of the big names in their squad, so you just presume that he’s going to be playing. If he’s not, that’s a good thing for us.

‘Ireland have a lot of good players , though. While we know who we’re playing against, someone like Aiden is a t alent. He’s proven h i ms el f through the years; it doesn’t matter who he is playing against, he can go by people, he can get crosses in.

‘ You’ve got Robbie Brady whipping in balls, so you know what to expect. There’s Seamus Coleman on the other side. You know what you’re playing against, you know what their qualities are.

‘I think that’s a help, because it’s hard when you’re against a team where you don’t know anybody.’

Hutton expects Given to start tomorrow, despite the former Newcastle and Manchester City goalie now pushing 40.

Miles on the clock are not much of a problem, apparently, for someone with a youthful zest for life. And laughs.

‘Some people maybe look at him and think he’s the oldest guy in the team, ’ said Hutton. ‘ But Shay is 39 going on 12.

‘The boys know that he’s a bit of a prankster. He just wouldn’t do it to me to because he knows I would get him back.

‘ His best prank was one he did to Fabian Delph two years ago. Fab did something to Shay’s toilet bag, so Shay put a fish in his car. Fab went away for the summer and was wondering what the smell was.

‘Then one day he found this fish in his car and r e al is e d what Shay had done. He does daft things like that all the time — he’s a big kid and likes a joke.

‘But you just have to look at how profession­al he has been. To not be playing for so long and still train so hard to get back into the Villa team, that is a great credit to him.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Shay plays. In fact, I am presuming he will play. He’s been in the Villa team recently and has experience. ‘ Guys like Shay and Keane still have a lot to offer. They’re used to big games and competitio­ns.’ Up against the joker and the arch poacher, t he known threats that can be anticipate­d but not a l ways negated, Scotland definitely feel as if they have got the edge over their Celtic cousins. No kidding.

 ??  ?? It’s personal:Hutton has played against several of the current Irish side, includingM­cGeady (inset) on Old Firm occasions
It’s personal:Hutton has played against several of the current Irish side, includingM­cGeady (inset) on Old Firm occasions
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