Hutton ‘touch and go’ for Scots as Hughes questions Whelan call-up

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has been handed a boost after it emerged yesterday that Scotland right-back Alan Hutton is a doubt for the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier at Parkhead on November 14.

Hutton missed Aston Villa’s 2-0 defeat at QPR on Monday after spraining his ankle in training and manager Paul Lambert says the 29-year-old is “touch and go” to be fit in time for the Ireland game and Scotland’s friendly against England four days later.

“Alan sprained his ankle in training, on the Friday before the QPR game. There was no major tackle,” Lambert said. “The Scotland game will be touch and go, I know we’ve got a fortnight roughly to go but it depends how quick a healer he is.”