Robert Huth: I was wrong to punch Matthew Upson, but I am not a thug

Stoke defender Robert Huth returns to the scene of the crime tomorrow insisting he is no thug.

The last time Huth stepped into the Britannia Stadium ring he landed a knock-out blow on Hammers defender Matthew Upson.

He swung a right hook as the pair jostled for a free-kick leaving Upson floored and needing medical attention.

German stopper Huth got away with it at the time but picked up a three-match ban once the FA checked the television footage.

The incident, which happened last month, has tarnished his reputation but the £5million capture from Middlesbrough is determined to fight his corner by claiming the moment of madness will never happen again.

He said: “It is out of character. I don't go around hurting people. I still don't know why I did it. It happened. Everybody has a little bit of anger in them and it was just triggered.

“I have had my punishment. It was wrong time, wrong reaction and missing three games is never good.

“It is just one of those things that happen on a football pitch. It was out of character and it was wrong.”

Huth accepts having shown a weakness, he may be targeted by football’s wind-up merchants but intends to turn the other cheek.

He added: “They might try to get at me now. If they do, I will have to take it on the chin and be ready for it.

“The one thing I will do though is apologise to Matthew Upson the next time I see him.

“If I bump into him, I will apologise – he might swing one my way. I'm sure it will be all right though.”

Potters boss Tony Pulis has bigger issues to worry about ahead of the clash with Portsmouth than controlling Huth.

He is more concerned with getting striker James Beattie fit and healthy. The frontman has undergone injections on his knee and ankle this week to try and get him in shape for tomorrow’s clash with Portsmouth.

Pulis said: “He keeps getting new injuries because of the way he plays. He is an old-fashioned centre-forward that does not duck challenges.

“The problem is, he keeps picking up knocks. That is making it difficult for him to get to full fitness.

“When you are a defender you can maybe get away with that. But, in the modern game, the strikers need to be super-fit.”