Grant - Hutton not dirty

Aston Villa assistant boss Peter Grant insists Alan Hutton is not a dirty player following criticism of the full-back by Roy Hodgson.

Villa assistant defends full-back over Hodgson criticism

Aston Villa assistant manager Peter Grant insists Alan Hutton is not a dirty player following criticism of the full-back by Roy Hodgson. West Brom boss Hodgson was unhappy with Hutton's tackle on Shane Long during last week's derby at Villa Park and described the challenge as 'vicious'. Hutton escaped any punishment for the tackle, but Baggies striker Long is facing several weeks on the sidelines due to a knee injury. However, Grant has defended the Scotland international and is adamant that Hutton has never previously been accused of being 'that type of player'.

Impatience

Grant said: "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 former Rangers defender who moved to Villa from Tottenham in August. He said: "He's not found his feet yet. 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."