LONDON, England (BBC) – Defender Alan Hutton says he hopes to feature in Scotland’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo.
The 25-year-old Tottenham right-back ended a seven-month injury lay-off when he played in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Wembley Cup.
He said facing the Norwegians on August 12 would seal his return.
“That’s another incentive for myself to keep pushing and working hard because it’s such a big game for us,” Hutton told BBC Scotland.
Hutton’s last appearance in a Scotland shirt came in the friendly defeat by Argentina at Hampden in November and he revealed that battling his way back to full fitness had proved difficult.
“Last year was a bit of a write-off for seven months and it was quite a bad injury I had,” he said.
“That’s all behind me now and I’m training well and looking to the future.”
Hutton said his injury could not have come at a worse time, six months after completing his £9m move from Rangers.
“These things happen in football and you just have to pick yourself up,” he said.
“I came back a bit too early last time and did myself a bit of harm, but I’ve learned from my mistakes and I’m fit and ready.”
The defender still retains hopes that Scotland will qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa.
“We just have to put in another few performances and hopefully we can get there,” he added.
Hutton said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had told him to knuckle down and work his way back into his first-team at White Hart Lane.
Competition at full-back has intensified with Kyle Naughton’s arrival, after he signed along with Kyle Walker from Sheffield United in a combined £10m deal.