Sutton insists he’s in it for the long haul

The striker, signed by previous manager Jim Jefferies, has found himself marginalised by manager Paulo Sergio since the 5-0 defeat at home to Tottenham, starting only the League Cup defeat at Ayr United and making a couple of brief substitute appearances in recent matches.

Reports surfaced last month claiming the former St Mirren and Motherwell player had been told he has no future at the club under Sergio, but Sutton insisted his only chat with the manager about his situation resulted him simply being told to bide his time.

He said: “I spoke to the manager when I was first left out of the team. He said I had qualities and advised me to keep on training. That’s what I have been doing. I was starting to play well, I scored two against Aberdeen in my last start, and I feel I’ve been doing well in training. I don’t think I’ve been a made a scapegoat for the Tottenham game – that was a night when most of the team played really poor. But I’m not the manager, I don’t pick the team.

“I signed a three-year deal so hopefully over those three years I can show the fans I was a decent signing. I have no regrets about coming here. I have moved my family through here to Edinburgh so there’s no reason to move. Hopefully after a while I will get back into the team and prove I was right.”