Hutch out to take his chance

10:16pm Monday 18th August 2008

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Oxford United's Joe Burnell will be sidelined for up to four weeks after damaging ankle ligaments during Saturday's 6-3 win over Eastbourne.

Out-of-favour midfielder Eddie Hutchinson says he hopes he can now take over from the former Bristol City, Wycombe and Northampton man for the next few games to stake his claim to stay at the club.

Burnell landed awkwardly when jumping for a header against Eastbourne, and hobbled off after just 17 minutes.

He told Oxford United's website: "It is very frustrating. I went up for a header and the lad just nudged me off balance just before I landed, so I went over on the ankle. I tried to carry on, but couldn't and it was quite swollen after the game."

Hutchinson, who replaced Burnell and gave an impressive performance, now looks set to continue alongside Adam Murray in the centre of the park for the U's visit to Wrexham on Thursday.

"It's hard on Joe, but hopefully I've done enough to stay in the gaffer's plans," said Hutchinson, who manager Darren Patterson had been hoping to offload to make room for others to come in.

Hutchinson, whose future at Oxford has been in doubt essentially because he is their biggest wage-earner, says he has tried to stay professional.

"I keep my head down," he stressed after Saturday's game, when he got one of United's goals.

"I could have chucked in the towel, gone on the drink and been lazy, but if anything, I'm a good pro and keep myself fit - and today shows I've got a chance and hopefully I'll take it. Once I got on, I felt confident of scoring.

"I was a bit more disciplined than I usually am, and maybe because of my good fitness, it seemed to work."

Several times, both near the end of last season and this summer, 'Hutch' has appeared close to moving.

"There's been bits and bobs, and I've almost been going to another club, but then they've not got back, so I've just trained as much as I can and as well as I can," he said.

"If the gaffer tells me about another club, we'll see.

"I don't really want to go. If I'm not going to play then I will, but it showed on Saturday, with the support we got, we scored six goals and I thought we played well for most of the game. It's a brilliant place to play.

"I still feel I can do a job, but I'm not going to be bullied out. If it's right for me to go and right for the club, obviously I'll go, but hopefully I'll get a couple more goals and force my way into his plans."

Hutchinson agreed that it was not his fault that he was offered a good deal by Oxford, but his high wages have hindered both his prospects at United, and his opportunities for joining other clubs.

"Before I came here there were bigger clubs in for me, that's why they put a bit more in for me,' he says. "But it has hindered me leaving, to be fair.

"I know if I'm not wanted I have to go elsewhere to play - if it's right for my family and my career.

"Other clubs have been in for me but they've been trying to get the best deal they can for their club, and that either kills the club, Oxford, or it kills me.

"Between me and Oxford it's been fine, it's just this other club - and I won't name them - where it's been a problem."

NIALL Hodgkins scored twice and Chris Fower once as United's Under 18s opened their Puma Youth Alliance campaign with a 3-1 win at Hereford.