Football HUTTON IS READY TO ROCK ROBIN; Spurs defender out to settle a score with Dutch star Van Persie HOLLAND v SCOTLAND.

Byline: By KENNY ROSS

IF there's one man in the Scotland set-up who has good reason to be running scared of Robin van Persie and Holland this weekend then it's Alan Hutton.

However, while George Burley's plans for the crunch World Cup qualifier have been thrown into disarray by a spate of call-offs, the Spurs defender appears just about the only man prepared to put his neck on the line in the Amsterdam Arena.

Hutton, who returned to action following a fourmonth lay-off in a reserve game against West Brom on Monday night, winced as he recalled his only previous head-to-head with Arsenal's Dutch star.

It came in the Premier League earlier this season when van Persie ran amok at the Emirates during an incredible 4-4 draw. Shellshocked Hutton was subbed in the second half to save him from further punishment.

But there were mitigating factors for Hutton's laboured display that evening. After missing the first three months of the campaign with a fractured foot, the Scot was subjected to eight games in four weeks - despite having only two full days training under his belt.

Only half-fit the 25-year-old understandably toiled to cope with the hectic schedule of matches and the trickery of van Persie.

Worse still his foot injury recurred and, as a result, he's been sidelined since November.

Monday night at the Hawthorns was the first step on the road to recovery and while that run out is as far removed as possible from what he can expect in front of 52,000 baying Dutchmen, the full-back insists he's 100 per cent ready to take care of unfinished business with Holland's star man.

He said: "To be honest, I didn't do too well the last time we crossed swords.

"It was in one of the games I probably shouldn't have played in, but I took the risk.

"It didn't pay off and I really struggled because I was nowhere near 100 per cent fit.

"That won't happen again because I'm ready this time and I'm desperate to play my part in Amsterdam."

With Burley's defensive options dwindling by the hour Hutton now looks certain to start in Holland and also four days later against Iceland.

The pounds 9million star hasn't played for Scotland since the friendly clash with Argentina in mid-November so his determination to return is fully understandable.

He added: "I felt sharp for the reserves on Monday and have been in full training with the first team for the past two weeks.

"I don't think it's a case of trying to prove anything and I know that I have much more in my locker. I feel better than I have done for a long, long time.

"The Dutch game is going to be extremely tough for us, although I don't see why we can't come away with something.

"We are going to be the underdogs and nobody will expect much from us over there, but that suits Scotland.

"This game means so much to everybody and that's why I'm desperate to play.

"Of course, I haven't had as many games as I would have liked but adrenalin usually takes over in these situations and gets you through. I don't see any problem."

CAPTION(S):

SET FOR ACTION Alan Hutton; DANGER MAN Van Persie will be a big threat to Scotland