Sunderland skipper still counting on Europe

Starting this afternoon at Southampton Peter Reid's men have three games to make a last ditch bid for glory - and Hutchison maintained: "There's still a chance - if we win our last three games we would feel unlucky not to make it."

Hutchison, who has proved himself to be a bargain buy following his £2.5m move from Everton last summer, is delighted to get the fans' vote ahead of players like goal-ace Kevin Phillips and club captain Niall Quinn.

But he feels that the team should have done better this season in its bid to take the next step forward in its second Premiership season.

"We really should have done better a couple of months ago," said the 29-year-old Scottish international.

"I read the other day that we hadn't won a home game since January 1, which is amazing because at one time only Manchester United came and beat us.

"It has been a bit frustrating over the last couple of months for the team and the fans so we'll try and win the next three games for them and see where that gets us.

"Not winning for a while will just make us stronger in the summer - you read that the gaffer is going to go out and spend and the players are all chuffed about that."

Hutchison maintains that disappointing refereeing decisions had proved a major factor in the team's slide down the table.

He said: "I don't like to harp on about match officials but we went through a spell of four games on the trot where we could have had maximum points and only came away with two or three - all at home.

"All major decisions costs us."

Hutchison is sure that the team will get better, and he feels he, too can play his full part in the improvement ahead.

He said: "We have quite a young side and we will get better.

"Players like Gavin McCann has had a few months back since recovering from his injury and has made the England side, which is a major plus, Michael Gray has had a great season and others like Jody Craddock, Julio Arca and Thomas Sorensen have been tremendous.

"There have been a lot of players who've done well right through the side.

"There were a lot of candidates for Player of the year and I was so proud picking up the award - it's a great accolade and I'm grateful to the fans for giving me the honour."

Hutchison admits that there would be a disappointment if the doorway to Europe remains closed this season.

He said: "We were desperate to qualify for Europe and some people might regard it as failure if we don't make it.

"But at the same time there are a lot of teams in the Premiership who would like to be our shoes.

"At one stage we were lying second and even though we have slipped to eighth there are still a lot of teams under us who would like to be there.

"As long as we keep improving, the players keep improving and the standard gets better - the gaffer has brought in some good players and next season he will be bringing in better ones because that's the way it goes."

Hutchison will be delighted if Reid can attract more players like crowd favourite Julio Arca, who won the Young Player of the Year award.

He said: "He fully deserves the award - he was the coolest player on the park in a hectic derby match against Newcastle and that tells you everything about him.

"He has great skills and he is only 20 years old. A lot of teams were chasing him and for us to have him is great.

"It helps the gaffer, too - if he wants to buy other Argentinians I am sure they will want to come.

"It's all about attracting better standards of players - we have very good players here but even the Manchester United and the Liverpools are breaking records in the transfer market by paying £19m and £20m.

"I'm sure he gaffer will have his ideas about who he wants to buy."

Hutchison dismisses speculation about his own future after being linked with a possible move to Chelsea.

But the former West Ham and Liverpool forward insisted: "I'm very happy at Sunderland - I still have three-and-a-half years on my contract here and I believe we are a club which is going places."