Alan Hutton has insisted he would never deliberately hurt anyone following his challenge on West Brom striker Shane Long last month.
Villa right-back claims that he never meant to injure Baggies striker
Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has insisted that he would never deliberately hurt anyone following his challenge on West Brom striker Shane Long last month.
Hutton's tackle left Long unable to play in the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off earlier this month and he was strongly criticised by Albion manager Roy Hodgson who believes the foul was intentional.
The incident happened in Villa's 2-1 Premier League defeat to the Baggies and, although the tough-tackling right-back is apologetic about the injury, he insists that he meant to get the ball.
"To be honest, I don't even listen to it. Things happen in football but I would never go out and mean to hurt somebody," said Hutton.
"I went to win the ball. The follow-through wasn't great but I would never go onto a pitch to hurt someone.
"It has happened to me before (getting injured) and I have just got on with it. Nobody means to go out and hurt anyone. Injuries happen every week. In football, decisions are made in split seconds. I broke my leg in a tackle.
"I'm sorry that (Long) was hurt and he was out for the length of time he was. Hodgson chose to say what he said and that's fine. He's a great player for them and I understand why (Hodgson) was angry."
Following Hodgson's disapproving comments, Hutton replied: "It doesn't bother me in the slightest. I don't tend to read into things."
