• Premier League

Villa defend Hutton over Long tackle complaint

ESPNsoccernet staff
October 27, 2011
Shane Long was forced to limp off © PA Photos
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Aston Villa assistant manager Peter Grant has backed Alan Hutton in the wake of stinging criticism from West Brom boss Roy Hodgson for his challenge on Shane Long, which has left the Irishman out for six weeks.

Hodgson was incensed by Hutton's tackle, which he described as "a wicked challenge,'' adding that there was "no place in football'' for such tackles and that Hutton should have been red carded.

Hutton did not even receive a booking for the incident, while the Baggies are now facing six weeks without Long, who will also miss Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off clashes with Estonia because of a knee injury.

But Villa assistant Grant insists Hutton is not a dirty player, saying: "I know what Alan has been painted as but he's not that type of player. That's been proven over the years. People haven't said in the past that Alan is aggressive, goes over the ball and is a dirty full-back.

"I don't think anybody has ever said that in his career. They've said he is an attacking full-back who likes to get forward. I think his biggest problem sometimes is that he's desperate to hit the ground running in games. There's that impatience in his game.''

Grant believes the best is still to come from the Scotland international who moved to Villa from Tottenham in August.

"He's not found his feet yet," Grant added. "There's more to come from him and we know he can be a top player here. You don't go to Tottenham for the price he did if you are not a top quality full-back.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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