Hutchinson to make decision on future in summer

LONDON, England (CMC):

On-loan Reggae Boy Omari Hutchinson conceded his future remained unclear after maintaining his excellent scoring form with a double for Ipswich Town in a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

The 20-year-old, who joined newly promoted Championship side Ipswich from Premier League giants Chelsea on a season-long loan at the start of the season, has emerged as one of the club’s best players with eight goals and five assists.

And even though noting that there were question marks over his destination next season, the pacey forward said he would have no qualms about returning to Portman Road.

“It’s going to be a difficult one. I don’t know the answer to that. But maybe – I hope so,” Hutchinson said.

“Listen, I can’t tell you where I’m going to play. We’ll see in the summer what the right move is and what the best decision is for myself.

“I love it here – 100 per cent. I’m glad I came.”

He added: “It’s a difficult one. Look, it will be one of my options if everyone agrees with it.

“But I couldn’t give you the right answer now. You’ll just have to wait and see in the summer.

“I’ll talk to my family and my agency, and we’ll see what the best decision is for me.”

Having gained automatic promotion to the Championship after finishing second behind Plymouth Argyle in League One last season, Ipswich have thrived in the higher division and currently lie third on 81 points – one point behind leaders Leeds and Leicester City.

Hutchinson has played a key role in the east England outfit’s form especially since the turn of the year, banging in five goals in his last nine outings, to be named Championship player of the month for February.

However, he said his focus at the start of the campaign was simply getting playing time and not gaining promotion.

“I didn’t expect it to be this good here. When I came, it was about trying to get as much game time as I can, even if it was mid-table, as long as I was getting minutes and performing,” he explained.

“When I first spoke to [manager Kieran] McKenna, he seemed like a really good guy. He’s been in academies and development, so he knows how the youth are.

“For me it was the right step. I didn’t really care about promotion, or anything like that. As long as we stayed in the Championship, that was fine for me, and I was getting minutes.”

England-born Hutchinson, capped at the Under-17 and Under-19 level for Three Lions, has featured in two friendlies for Jamaica but has not played since March last year.