John Sutton: It was a relief to leave Spurs and make a name for myself north of the border

Aug 15 2011 By Craig Swan

JOHN SUTTON sloped out of Spurs after failing to break into the reserves due to £17million strike duo Sergei Rebrov and Les Ferdinand.

But the Hearts hitman insists the grounding he got at White Hart Lane can inspire him to sink the Londoners in this week's Europa League Battle of Britain.

Thursday's first-leg clash with Harry Redknapp's Premiership giants promises to be among the most memorable occasions ever staged at Tynecastle.

For Sutton, it's even more special.

As a kid, he left his native Norwich for London to make his way in the game under George Graham at Spurs.

But with spending power reaching staggering levels in the English top flight, the youngster quickly realised he was never going to break through.

With the megabucks pairing of Rebrov and Ferdinand filling shirts at second-team level, Sutton had to leave.

He said: "I worked under George Graham and then Glenn Hoddle at Spurs and the size of the squad was unbelievable.

"I spoke to the manager a couple of times and I also trained with the team, but there were so many players there I don't think they would remember me.

"At 14 I'd go up there every weekend and at the time I probably didn't appreciate how good it was for me.

"It was tough to break into a Premiership side but the coaching it was great.

"I was trying to play in the reserve team but Rebrov and Ferdinand were playing and I wanted to go out and get some regular football.

"To be honest, I'd found it disheartening because I scored a lot of goals for the youth team and a few for the reserves as well.

"There just didn't seem to be any way through and, in many ways, it was a bit of a relief to leave and try to make a name for myself elsewhere."

Sutton's career path eventually led him north to star for Dundee, St Mirren and Motherwell before his Tynecastle move.

Spurs have also enjoyed a step up the ladder in that time and are now among the real big guns down south.

The 27-year-old said: "Tottenham have always been regarded as quite a big club but, in terms of getting into the top four or five, then that is another level.

"You look at the quality in their squad and people have been talking about them making a run for the league.

"They have stepped up and it'll be incredibly difficult for us on Thursday."

Sutton is relishing the chance to run out at White Hart Lane in 10 days but first up he faces a titanic tussle with the English side at Tynecastle on Thursday night.

Hearts are almighty underdogs going into the play-off round and Redknapp's team should progress, but that has not dampened home enthusiasm.

Such are the nature of Scotland v England clashes, adrenalin will be pumping through the Gorgie ranks as they look to take a major scalp.

Sutton wants to be involved and sent out the right messages to boss Paulo Sergio in Saturday's 3-0 win over Aberdeen.

The hitman bagged his first two goals in club colours and made himself an odds-on favourite to start against the Londoners.

It was a big day for Sutton, having signed for Jim Jefferies only to see his boss replaced three games into the campaign.

But he said: "I have never worried about who the manager is because it is up to me to show I have good ability.

"It is sad that Jim left. When he took over the club weren't in a particularly good position and he turned that around.

"The bar has been set very high for Paulo but we will all work hard."

Sutton and co could raise the bar even higher with a win on Thursday but the striker refused to label the Europa League match as the biggest of his career.

He said: "It'll be something to remember and if we go through it will probably rank as one of the best games of my career."

Taken from the Daily Record