Alan Hutton confident Aston Villa will challenge for promotion next season
Alan Hutton has ‘no doubt’ Villa will be challenging for promotion next season after signing a new deal at the club.
The 33-year-old full-back yesterday brought speculation over his future to abrupt end when he agreed a new, one-year deal at Villa Park.
Hutton was set to become a free agent at the end of the month and it is understood he has taken a significant pay cut, after turning down the offer of a more lucrative, two-year deal at Nottingham Forest.
The decision to extend his stay with Villa comes barely a week after the club was threatened with a winding-up order by HMRC after missing a tax payment.
Despite the uncertainty which still exists at the club and the loss of key men, including skipper John Terry and loan star Robert Snodgrass, Hutton is convinced they will have a team to challenge next term.
“For everyone, promotion will be the target,” he said. “We know some of the loan signings who went back were massive players.
“People will have to step up and fill those gaps. But I do believe we have players who can do that. There is a lot of young talent as well. There is no doubt we will be challenging next year.”
Hutton’s new deal would also appear to be the clearest indication yet Steve Bruce will remain as boss at Villa Park.
Tying down the former Scotland international, who enjoyed a superb season in the unfamiliar position of left-back, was one of Bruce’s first summer priorities.
Both the manager and technical director Steve Round moved swiftly to complete the deal after learning of their playing budget on Tuesday.
A tough summer still likely lies ahead for Villa, with doubts still remaining over owner Tony Xia’s ability to fund the club.
Yet Hutton, who admits he feared last month’s play-off defeat to Fulham might be his final game for Villa, is determined to focus positively on the future.
“I have definitely found the last few weeks tough,” he said. “I have grown to love the club and the play-off defeat really hurt me deep. I am still coming to terms with it.
“On the flip side, we have a new season coming up. We have to move forward, press on and try and do what we wanted to do which is get promoted.”
