CHRIS BURKE has hailed team-mate Alan Hutton for putting the lucrative offer from Tottenham to the back of his mind.

Rangers last week accepted a bid of £9m for Hutton, but the Scotland full-back turned down a move to the London giants, who have since announced their interest in the player has ended.

Hutton's decision to reject an offer that would have more than doubled his £11,000-a-week wages has sparked thousands of column inches.

But the 23-year-old still performed to his usual high standards in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Dundee United.

And Burke was impressed with Hutton's mental strength.

The Gers winger said: "Alan has done very well. You have to be able mentally to deal with that and I think he has done so.

"He showed that in the next match, he played a great game. I'm sure he will be a great player for Rangers in the future."

Burke, who has brushed aside speculation about his own future and kick-started his season by playing the last three games, was not surprised that Hutton snubbed a move to the Barclays Premier League.

He said: "As a football player you just want to stay where you are happy and he is happy here.

"He can play anywhere - he has got all the attributes to be a top, top player.

"He is still learning the game, he is still young. With teams like Tottenham Hotspur coming in and showing interest in him, it proves he is a quality player.

"He is happy here and he is doing very, very well, so why change it?"

Hutton could have been lining up in a north London derby last night as Tottenham went head- to-head with Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-final.

Walter Smith, who today marks the first anniversary of his return to Ibrox for his second spell as boss, will instead be able to pick Hutton for the cup tie against East Stirlingshire as the Irn-Bru Third Division minnows visit Ibrox on Sunday.