by PAT MOONEY ALAN Hutton won a Carling Cup medal in only his third game at Tottenham. However, the 23-year-old full-back is taking nothing for granted and knows he has to continue to prove his worth to Spurs head coach Juande Ramos. Hutton, who eventually completed a

ALAN Hutton won a Carling Cup medal in only his third game at Tottenham.

However, the 23-year-old full-back is taking nothing for granted and knows he has to continue to prove his worth to Spurs head coach Juande Ramos.

Hutton, who eventually completed a protracted £9 million move from Rangers in January, has hit the ground running and has made the right-back spot his own. Indeed, it says much for the Scot that Ramos, who worked with the highly-rated Daniel Alves at Sevilla, was so keen to sanction such a large transfer fee for him.

"Everything has been positive for myself because I've settled in really well," Hutton exclusively told Ham&High Sport. "But I want to keep working hard and keep performing well."

Hutton was delighted that Spurs bounced back from the Newcastle drubbing with a deserved point in Saturday's 1-1 against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

"That 4-1 defeat against Newcastle was hard to take," he admitted. "The good thing was that we had another game quickly to bounce back. We wanted to prove to everybody that we're a good team, who were capable of doing that."

Although Hutton took his time before deciding to join the Ramos revolution - he twice turned Tottenham down before finally agreeing to move on the penultimate day of the January transfer window - he says he has no regrets now.

"I was a wee bit apprehensive at first," he said. "I wanted to see out the season at Rangers. I didn't feel it was right to leave halfway through.

"There were a lot of things to think about when I was making the decision. It wasn't just about football, it was about my family and other factors too.

"Obviously, I had grown up supporting Rangers before playing for them, so just leaving the club was a hard choice in itself. I had thought about whether I was ready for the move.

"In my head I wanted to finish the season with Rangers before I came down. But I know I'm able to cope with the pressures in the big games. I'm glad now I made the decision to go because I am becoming a better player."

Hutton, who was also linked with a move to Manchester United, has started to produce telling forward runs to go with his defensive duties for Spurs and feels he has adjusted well to the pace and power of the Premier League.

"Every week I play against an international top quality player," he said. "That's one of the main aspects, the pace. If you switch off these teams will hurt you. You can't let your concentration drop."

Hutton says he has also found no problems in adjusting to Ramos's new training and diet regime. "It is no harder than what I'm used to," he said. "Yes, we do work harder but I'm sure every team works hard so it is no different to anywhere else.

"Obviously, you need to watch what you eat and what you do off the park."

And off the field, Hutton is enjoying his new life at the Lane. He has also settled in well, thanks mainly to his new colleagues - especially Irishman Robbie Keane.

"Where I have moved in, he just lives around the corner," he said. "Robbie supports Celtic and we get a good laugh and some back and forth. But he's really helped me to settle in."

The Scottish international has now set his sights on helping the Lilywhites to further success next season. "Obviously, you want to win things in your career and to win the Carling Cup at Wembley in only my third game was a brilliant experience," he said.

"Hopefully, there will be more to come. The manager has big plans for us. He wants to take us forward and challenge at the top of the Premier League.

"With the squad we will have next season, hopefully we will be able to do something big."

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co