PSV coach confirms Hutchinson will miss significant time

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Atiba Hutchinson did not train with the team Wednesday as it prepared for its Europa League clash with Legia Warsaw.

Hutchinson, the reigning Canadian player of the year, is expected to need another surgery on his injured knee, coach Fred Rutten told the club’s official website.

“Even worse is the news of Atiba Hutchinson, which is likely to go under the knife again,” said Rutten (translated from Dutch). “I am very disappointed, Atiba always gives 120 per cent and so we must analyze how good the rehabilitation process has gone. In all probability he should go back to surgery and I am afraid to have lost him for a while.”

What could be more interesting is how the injury will strain the relationship between PSV and national coach Stephen Hart. PSV got an 11th-hour rescue from bankruptcy over the summer thanks to a bailout package from the local council; it isn’t as deep a club as it used to be. Losing a starter the quality of Hutchinson hurts — a lot.

Hutchinson was called up for the first two Canadian World Cup qualifiers — and played in the opening match against St. Lucia — after he made just one brief appearance with PSV after coming back from meniscus surgery. He had the surgery after he went out of the Gold Cup, playing only in Canada’s opening game against the United States.

At that time, Rutten had expresed his disappointment how things had worked out. And you know that the PSV coach has to be fuming that he has lost Hutchinson after the early indications from Hart was that he wasn’t going to take the Brampton, Ont. native until later in the qualifying process. In fact, based on statements Hart had made earlier (SEE HERE), it was a surprise to see Hutchinson named to the most recent Canada squad.

Losing Hutchinson for the short term is bad for both PSV and Canada. But the schism it will likely cause between the club and the Canadian Soccer Association may be an even more damaging development.