Don Hutchison has made his peace with Sunderland - and insists he
did not label them long ball merchants.
He was reported as saying, with reference to the recent bid by Sunderland for his services, that Trevor would not be suited to their style of play.
"The comments attributed to him earned a stinging rebuke from former team mate Niall Quinn, but he says:
"I'm obviously not going to tell Trevor to leave because I want all the best players to stay on.
"I was kiddingly joking on that Trevor is best off staying here.
"I have spoken to Quinny since and he knows I was just having a laugh on that side of it.
"I don't want to knock Sunderland because they have been fantastic to me and I don't want to cause any unrest between me and any of the players, or the fans, because I get on so well with them.
"I have spoken to Peter Reid since the article came out in the papers and I have told him that the article misquoted me when I was saying about the route one stuff.
"All I was saying was that they have got one of the best front men in the business at holding the ball up.
"Sunderland exploit that; sometimes I wish we could do that but we have got a different style of play, and we have got to play a lot more football than probably what Sunderland do.
"That is the point I was trying to get across and unfortunately it was misquoted.
"Trevor is a good lad and happy here; and he was made captain when Paolo was away so that will do his confidence no end of good."
Geordie Don will have a fair few friends at Upton Park supporting the opposition on Sunday, and, looking at the match, he says:
"It is a massive game for us, live on Sky as well, and the boys are looking forward to it.
"We are always full of confidence, and the gaffer has worked us hard this week.
"I think they are unbeaten for about 12 games which is not a bad run, but they have that hoodoo where they haven't won in London for a year or two.
"Hopefully we can keep that going."
He is pleased that Alan Shearer is playing again and adds:
"It is nice to see him back; it is always good to see your fellow pros back after a long injury - but hopefully we can take care of him on Sunday."
As for the performance at Middlesbrough, he adds:
"We can make all the excuses in the world but I don't think it will wash - the punters are disappointed because we didn't put in a good performance.
"But the fact is we had extra time at Reading and with the tragedy that happened in America, we had a five hour coach journey, when otherwise, more likely than not, we would have flown up.
"So, come Saturday morning, we were a little bid dead and I think it showed in our performance."
Hutch will switch back to midfield after starting as a forward at the Riverside.
He adds:
"I don't mind where I play, I'm not one of these players that will pick and choose a position.
"Wherever the boss wants to play me, I am happy with that, but I don't think I had a particularly good game."
He is disappointed the midweek game with Aston Villa had to be postponed, and adds:
"We were looking to having two home games on the spin, which could have been six points, but we are away yet again next week."
He was reported as saying, with reference to the recent bid by Sunderland for his services, that Trevor would not be suited to their style of play.
"The comments attributed to him earned a stinging rebuke from former team mate Niall Quinn, but he says:
"I'm obviously not going to tell Trevor to leave because I want all the best players to stay on.
"I was kiddingly joking on that Trevor is best off staying here.
"I have spoken to Quinny since and he knows I was just having a laugh on that side of it.
"I don't want to knock Sunderland because they have been fantastic to me and I don't want to cause any unrest between me and any of the players, or the fans, because I get on so well with them.
"I have spoken to Peter Reid since the article came out in the papers and I have told him that the article misquoted me when I was saying about the route one stuff.
"All I was saying was that they have got one of the best front men in the business at holding the ball up.
"Sunderland exploit that; sometimes I wish we could do that but we have got a different style of play, and we have got to play a lot more football than probably what Sunderland do.
"That is the point I was trying to get across and unfortunately it was misquoted.
"Trevor is a good lad and happy here; and he was made captain when Paolo was away so that will do his confidence no end of good."
Geordie Don will have a fair few friends at Upton Park supporting the opposition on Sunday, and, looking at the match, he says:
"It is a massive game for us, live on Sky as well, and the boys are looking forward to it.
"We are always full of confidence, and the gaffer has worked us hard this week.
"I think they are unbeaten for about 12 games which is not a bad run, but they have that hoodoo where they haven't won in London for a year or two.
"Hopefully we can keep that going."
He is pleased that Alan Shearer is playing again and adds:
"It is nice to see him back; it is always good to see your fellow pros back after a long injury - but hopefully we can take care of him on Sunday."
As for the performance at Middlesbrough, he adds:
"We can make all the excuses in the world but I don't think it will wash - the punters are disappointed because we didn't put in a good performance.
"But the fact is we had extra time at Reading and with the tragedy that happened in America, we had a five hour coach journey, when otherwise, more likely than not, we would have flown up.
"So, come Saturday morning, we were a little bid dead and I think it showed in our performance."
Hutch will switch back to midfield after starting as a forward at the Riverside.
He adds:
"I don't mind where I play, I'm not one of these players that will pick and choose a position.
"Wherever the boss wants to play me, I am happy with that, but I don't think I had a particularly good game."
He is disappointed the midweek game with Aston Villa had to be postponed, and adds:
"We were looking to having two home games on the spin, which could have been six points, but we are away yet again next week."