Alan Hutton calls time on Scotland career
Aston Villa right-back Alan Hutton has announced his retirement from Scotland duty.
Hutton was absent from the squad to face England in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley and it has emerged he had asked manager Gordon Strachan to be excluded.
The 31-year-old failed to regain his place from Callum Paterson of Hearts for last month's double header against Lithuania and Slovakia after pulling out of the previous two squads through injury.
Alan Hutton's 50th cap against the Czech Republic proved to be his last
The former Rangers and Tottenham player, who won 50 caps, told The Observer: "I feel this is the right time to spend more time with my family, put everything I have professionally into doing well at Villa and give others a chance for Scotland.
"I've had a really enjoyable nine years with Scotland and would like to think I have done my bit for my country.
"I'd like to thank all the managers I have played under, especially Gordon for sticking by me when I wasn't a club regular. We had a couple of good chats over the last few weeks and I appreciate his understanding. I wish both Gordon and the team all the best for the future."
Speaking to several Sunday newspapers, Strachan said: "Alan Hutton has taken himself out of the frame to be an international player. Was it out the blue? A wee bit.
"He's maybe in a position now where he's thinking: 'How long is that? Ten years? Have I done enough?' We respect everyone's decision."
One man who recently reversed his international retirement, Scott Brown, could still miss out on the Auld Enemy clash after going off injured in Celtic's 3-0 win over Inverness on Saturday.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said: ''It looked like the top of his foot, when he came off he said his foot was numb so I think he has obviously taken a fair whack because he doesn't come off easily so we will need to wait and see.
''The medical team here or at Scotland will decide whether he is fit to play or not.''
Paterson headed his sixth goal of the season to earn Hearts a 2-2 draw with St Johnstone but there was further food for thought in defence for Strachan, who is missing injured left-backs Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, after Grant Hanley spent another afternoon on the bench as Newcastle beat Cardiff.
Hanley is a regular in central defence for Scotland but has only started one league game since moving from Blackburn to Newcastle and his only start since the 3-0 defeat in Slovakia came in the EFL Cup. Russell Martin played 90 minutes as Norwich conceded their eighth goal in two matches.
Christophe Berra continued pushing for a start by helping Ipswich win 2-1 against Sheffield Wednesday, who featured Scotland pair Barry Bannan and Steven Fletcher.
Derby's Ikechi Anya and Norwich forward Steven Naismith both spent 90 minutes on the bench as they continue to struggle for game time but Leigh Griffiths scored for Celtic after starting against Caley Thistle.
