Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, Scotsman and former Premier League footballer Alan Hutton and Scotland International gives us his thoughts on upcoming stars Liam Delap and Jobe Bellingham and emphasises the importance of regular game time in their development.
He also reflects on the form of Morgan Gibbs White and has tipped him for another England call-up, discusses playing against Cristiano Ronaldo and has some big calls about the next crossover MMA Stars.
Play Where You Thrive
I think for his development, it's key that Jobe Bellingham plays football. He's only 19, and he's playing week in, week out where he is. I think if you move too early to a big club where you're just going to sit on the sidelines, it stunts that growth.
I think that's the big thing for him and his family. Look, his family have done brilliant, with his brother, in terms of the moves that he's made and the development that he's made at the right time. So I think they'll be the same for him.
So the key for me is to go where you're going to play football and develop and become a better player. Like I said, he's 19, he could stay where he is. I mean, if Sunderland do happen to make it to the Premier League, that's another good step for him.
If they don't quite make it and he has another year in the Championship, I don't think that's a bad thing either. It's always difficult to turn down big Premier League teams, but you don't want to go there and just disappear. You want to be there and thrive and play week in, week out. So that's the key for him, I think.
Jobe Bellingham For A Manchester Move?
Jobe Bellingham to Manchester United? That's a high-pressure situation for somebody at 19 to deal with. I mean, I don't know what he's like as a character, but you'd feel that him going in there, playing week in, week out, if things are going well, then perfect.
But if they're not having a good season next season, the manager's not quite working out, then it can become very difficult. That's why, when you look at the likes of his brother going to Borussia Dortmund and really kicking on there, giving young players an opportunity to become better and play week in, week out, that really worked for him.
So it'll be interesting to see who's exactly in for him if the sundown thing, if they don't get to the Premier League, and he feels that it's the right time to move on. It'll be interesting to see where he goes, but like I said, the key for me is he has to play. That's how you develop.
Morgan Gibbs-White vs Cole Palmer and Phil Foden
Morgan Gibbs White has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant. He's probably one of the main reasons why Nottingham Forest are where they are at this moment in time.
Looking at other options for England, Cole Palmer has kind of dropped off a little bit. Phil Foden is probably not playing as much as he would like. As class players as they are, these things happen. You have drops in form or whatever it may be.
Even for England, it goes back to the old thing where you think of Morgan Gibbs-White. He wasn't in the initial squad last time, then he got brought in through injuries, which is quite incredible.
If you're picking off form, he should definitely be there, but he needs to continue to play at that high level if they want to make the Champions League.
Delap To Forrest?
Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest would be a smart signing, especially if they get Champions League football. I think that's a massive achievement, and everybody, as we've said, wants to play at that level.
Of course, the way they play in fast breaks, I think Delap would fit into that, but I think all round as a player, I think he can become even better.
Technically, he's good with the ball, he makes runs in behind, he's an intelligent player, he's at a young age where he's going to improve, he's going to get better. So I think it would take a fair bit of money to obviously prize him away.
But with everything that's happening at this moment in time, unfortunately, they're probably going to lose some of their top players, and I think that could be a good fit for him. That could be the next level for his development.
Facing Cristiano Ronaldo
Playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, there's no getting away from it. It's very difficult. I mean, the size of him, especially when I first moved down, I think my first game at Tottenham was against Manchester United, actually and was against Ronaldo.
But I loved that. I was young. I played with freedom myself, and what an opportunity to go and test yourself against one of the best. But I think in the back of the mind, you always know that he could take you apart at any moment if you switch off.
He had that ability to just go past you. He had pace, he had power and goals. He could score from anywhere.
I think it's one now that I've retired, I look back on it, and you think, I've played against one of the best in the world. I think that that's a brilliant thing. And for him to still be playing at the age that he is, it's just testament to him and how he's looked after himself. What an incredible player.
Ronaldo’s Goals Defies Age
Cristiano Ronaldo probably feels that he could play to that age, no problem. Where he's playing at this moment in time, it's not the highest level. I know there are some big names out there, the way he looks after himself day to day, there's no reason that he can't go and play for another few years.
He'll feel that he can, no problem. He'll feel that he can still score goals. So I feel that he would go on for as long as possible. And rightly so. If you feel good, why shouldn't you?
Micah Richards Could Be “Special” in MMA
There's a couple of angry people that I know well that would probably be angry enough to go into a cage. I'd say Big Micah Richards. I'd love to see him do it.
“He is an absolute unit, an absolute tank. And by the way, when he gets angry, he gets angry. So I'd love to see that. That'd be something special, he should follow Patrice Evra, I’d say.
KSI’s Next Opponent
Phil Bardsley he was a bit of a boxer. So that kind of comes natural to him. I know a few aggressive people, but not very many good fighters.
I’m thinking of something like Gabby Agbonlahor to take on KSI. He used to fancy himself with a set of boxing gloves on. Whether he's any good, I'm not so sure, but he used to hit a bag now and then, so why not?
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