BY DARREN JOHNSTONE @CCP_Sport
Queen of the South midfielder Kyle Hutton admits he has no intention of leaving Palmerston this month – especially when he is getting the regular football that he craved at Rangers.
The playmaker was named in the Doonhamers’ first eleven for the 11th time on Saturday as James Fowler’s side moved to within two points of the Championship play-offs with a 2-0 win at Livingston.
And in running out at the Tony Macaroni Arena, Hutton surpassed the ten starts he made at the Ibrox club over the two previous campaigns.
The 24-year-old’s short-term deal with Queens is due to expire next week but Hutton is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be handed longer terms.
He said: “My contract runs out on the 11th of January.
“I’ve not actually spoken to the gaffer yet but hopefully we can get a chat next week and see where it goes from there.
“I’m enjoying it, the gaffer has given me the chance to come here and play.
“It’s a great set of boys, I get on well with the gaffer and the assistant Gav Skelton so hopefully it can be a positive chat next week .
“When you’re playing football you’re always going to enjoy it.
“I’m 24 now and as soon as I left Rangers I knew I needed to play.
“I did plenty of sitting on the bench when I was at Rangers and it’s all about playing for me now.”
Hutton, who has made a total of 18 outings this season, reckons his own game has come on leaps and bounds.
He added: “It was a bit stop-start when I was at Rangers but coming here and getting regular games, that’s when you can only improve and with each game I feel I’m doing that.
“When I was at Rangers you think you’re getting into your groove and then you’re back out of the team.
“At Queen I’m getting into it and I’m playing every week so I’m really enjoying it.”
Queens moved to within touching distance of Raith Rovers at the weekend after collecting a win courtesy of second half goals from Derek Lyle and Iain Russell.
The result pushes managerless Livingston, who had David Hopkin in temporary charge, back into the relegation play-off zone.
Striker Danny Mullen offered a frank assessment of his team’s display.
He said: “I thought we were second to every ball and didn’t perform. We were a yard off the pace and personally I thought I didn’t show up myself.
“We’ll go again next week.”
