Hutton reminded of leg-break horror by Eduardo fracture

TOTTENHAM defender Alan Hutton has described how Eduardo’s injury this week reminded him of his own double leg break when he took a season after returning to fully recover.

Hutton was injured in 2005 for Rangers and was out for eight months before coming back and eventually playing his way back into the form.

Alex McLeish was in charge at Ibrox at the time and offered encouragement during the recovery, and on Saturday Hutton is in line to meet his former boss when Spurs travel to Birmingham.

It was at St Andrews where Arsenal striker Eduardo suffered his fractured leg and dislocated ankle, triggering memories for Hutton.

“It was tough for me to get back and when I finally did it wasn’t really feeling right,” said the Scotland full-back. Even when I was back training, it maybe took a season to get back to playing the way I knew I could.

It took me a good two seasons, easy, to get back to where I was.”

The 23-year-old still has a screw and a metal rod in his right leg after injuring himself against Kilmarnock three years ago.

“It bleeps at the airport,” he added. “I’m sick of hearing ‘have you got any change in your pocket’ when the alarm goes off.”

His January switch to Spurs and winning the Carling Cup last Sunday was a long way from the days of his injury. “There was definitely a point when I questioned if I was going to come back,” he said.

“I’m sure those days were very tough for my missus with me being bored all the time but all of that is in the past now.”

Alan Smith was another to voice his support for the Croatian striker yesterday.

Smith broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in an FA Cup game for Manchester United against Liverpool in 2006, but returned to action seven months later.

Now at Newcastle, Smith has made 24 appearances in the Premier League this season and believes his injury worries are firmly behind him.

He said: “I can understand what Eduardo’s going through. I think everyone in football realised at the time how bad an injury it was.

“Most people have come out and sent their best wishes to Eduardo and Arsenal and hopefully they can get him back fit and playing football again in the near future. ‘My main aim this season was to play as much football as possible. I’ve managed to do that and stay clear of any reoccurrence of any injury or any adverse effect in other areas.

“It’s difficult. Normally when you come back you do break down with other injuries but I’ve been okay and I’ m looking forward to the rest of the season and picking up a few results.”