Max Hutchison set for a spell on the sidelines following an ankle injury

Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy has confirmed that Max Hutchison will be absent from the squad for at least a month following an injury the midfielder received last night against Kerry FC. 

The 24-year-old was forced to make way on the cusp of half-time after he rolled his ankle following a challenge in the corner of the pitch near the dressing room area where Hutchison attempted to block a cross from an opposition player. 

“For the moment, all we know is that Max had an x-ray last night, thankfully there were no bones broken,” Murphy told DonegalLive.  

“Now when they found out that there were no bones broken on the ankle, that then led to the fact that there could be ligament damage. 

“For now, it’s just about waiting for the swelling to subside and assess it then. That could take up to at least a week, but we are confident that there is definitely ligament damage, but thankfully there’s no break.” 

The play continued as Hutchison received treatment off the pitch at the corner of the ground, but Murphy knew immediately that the Harps midfielder was unable to continue as the medics were called over the tannoy to assist the Donegal club player. 

“Even in the early diagnosis, I say we’re probably looking at Max being absent for up to a month and that’s the best-case scenario,” the Harps manager said.  

“I don’t like putting facts and figures on it, because it might not be that long, or it might be a lot worse, but I say we’ll be without Max for up to a month. It’s come at such a bad time, but these injuries are part and parcel of the game.” 

Asked about the scenario following Harps’ draw with Kerry FC on Friday night, the club manager was unable to confirm the situation of his midfielder, but after receiving the news this morning Murphy can confirm that Hutchison will be absent for at least a month. 

“I think Max went to chase a Kerry player down into the corner, but as we know, with the pitch being as soft as it is, the ground sort of gave way and he ended up rolling his ankle,” said Murphy. 

“There’s a lot of sand on the pitch, so that means there’s a lot of movement and unfortunately when he planted his foot down to stop the cross, his foot slid through the sand and that ended up damaging the ankle. 

“I think when he blocked the Kerry player, both of them fell and when the opposition player was getting up, his leg put some form of pressure to Max’s ankle and that’s where he thinks a lot of the damage came from. 

“I think in scenarios like this, it can either be ligament damage or it can be a broken bone. We knew it was 50/50 and now we know there are no broken bones, so it is ligament damage, now how severe that ligament damage is we don’t know but I’d be confident that he won’t be on the pitch for at least a month.”