ALAN HUTTON has been backed to spearhead Scotland�s World Cup bid thanks to his dream £9million move to Spurs.

ALAN HUTTON has been backed to spearhead Scotland's World Cup bid thanks to his dream £9million move to Spurs.

Hutton became the joint most expensive Scottish player ever last week when he joined the Premier League club from Rangers.

Only the defender's fellow national squad member Craig Gordon, who joined Sunderland last year, has commanded such a big a transfer fee.

Now fellow full-back Gary Naysmith, who for years patrolled a top-flight English beat with Everton, before switching to Sheffield United, feels the change will improve Hutton as a player.

Naysmith said: "Alan has played really well for Rangers over the last year or two and he deserves his move to Spurs. I am sure he will be a big success down in England.

"Tottenham are getting better under Juande Ramos and I think Alan's game will improve further as a result of moving.

"He has everything he needs in his game. He is tall, he can defend, he can attack, he can put crosses in, he can beat players and he can stop players.

"No direspect to where he was playing, but I think that down in England he will be playing against better quality players week in, week out.

"He will have to maintain and then improve upon the high standards that he set at Rangers and I think that can only benefit the Scotland side."

Naysmith has also given his backing to the appointment of Celtic centre-half Steven Pressley as one of new Scotland boss George Burley's assistants.

The left-back has played alongside Elvis in defence at both Hearts and with the national team, and admitted it would be strange having to work under him.

But he said: "It's a bit weird that Steven is going to be coaching me, but I think he is a good choice. I will give him the respect that he deserves.

"Coaching is a natural progression for Steven at this late stage in his career.

"It is a great chance for him being part of the national set-up."

• Rangers Uefa Cup game with Panathinaikos will be live on BBC TV next Wednesday. Sky are showing the Scottish Cup replay between Dundee United and St Mirren on the same night.

• Former Ranger Bob Malcolm has been offered a fresh start with MLS club Dallas FC. Malcolm, 27, has been linked with Motherwell after being freed by Derby.

• New Clyde boss John Brown will meet supporters for the first time tonight at a fans' forum at Broadwood.

• Defending champions Egypt will meet Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup semi-finals after last night's 2-1 victory over Angola. Cameroon beat Tunisia 3-2 after extra-time to set up a last-four clash with hosts Ghana.