Hutton apologises to Long but refuses to tone down tackling style

Alan Hutton has finally issued a belated apology to Shane Long but vowed to continue producing crunching challenges.

Aston Villa's rugged right-back Hutton, 26, took out West Brom forward Long, 24, with a fierce lunge on October 22.

In-form Long hobbled off at Villa Park after just 20 minutes and was out for a month with a chipped bone in his knee.

The incident infuriated Baggies boss Roy Hodgson and team-mate Paul Scharner who accused Villa of deliberately targeting Long.

The forward missed two Albion games and the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 play-off win against Estonia.

But Long returned to score the winner in Albion's 2-1 triumph over Bolton when he hit out at Hutton failing to apologise.

And former Rangers and Spurs full-back Hutton has now responded saying: "I'd like to say that I'm sorry he's been hurt. 

"I would never go out and mean to hurt somebody. It has happened to me before and I just got on with it.

"Everybody's got their own opinion and they're going to say things about it, but nobody means to go out and hurt anybody. 

"Injuries happen every week. It's not a personal thing. 

"I went to win the ball, the follow through wasn't great. But, like I say, I would never ever go out on to a pitch and mean to hurt anybody.

"I'm sorry he was hurt and he was out for the length of time that he was. He's a great player and was a great loss for them, so I understand why he was angry.

"Nobody likes to see a fellow professional get injured - it's not great."

But Hutton, who broke his leg playing for Rangers in 2005 under McLeish, has vowed that the incident will not change his aggressive game.

And the Scot has been given the green light to carry on producing crunching tackles by boss McLeish ahead of Sunday's trip to Swansea.

Hutton added: "The manager said forget about it and I did.

"I think if you read too much into it, maybe the next time you think: 'maybe I shouldn't go in for it'.

"In football decisions are made in split seconds and I think you always have to go with your instincts at the time and hopefully it's the right one.

"I broke my leg in a tackle and I've done all sorts of things. I've been on the receiving end of bad tackles as well. 

"Through your career it's always going to happen, it's one of those things. The game's a contact sport.

"I think there's an over-reaction at times. 

"In the heat of the moment I understand why people say things and they get annoyed at the time, which is fine. 

"But I'll continue to be the same person on and off the pitch and that's just me.

"You have to put it to the back of your mind and the next time it comes up you have to think along the same lines and just do what you think's right."