Ipswich Town: Omari Hutchinson on season so far and England hopes…
Ipswich Town star Omari Hutchinson admits the season isn’t going the way the team hoped it would – but he believes the Blues can start racking up vital wins after the international break.
With nine Premier League games left, Town are staring an immediate return to the Championship in the face, sitting nine points behind Wolves in the battle to escape the drop.
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But Hutchinson, who scored for England U21s in their 4-2 win over Portugal last night, insists Town will still get better.
Really enjoyable,” he said of playing in the top tier for the first time. “Obviously the season’s not going the way we want it to, but it’s a dream come true for me to play in the Premier League, facing the biggest teams in the world.
“All I’ve tried to do is perform as best as I can. There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I think it builds character for me and the team as well.
“It’s our first season in the Prem for a long while and I think we’re still adjusting – and hopefully when we go back we can start getting some wins.”
Asked what he’d learned most from this season, he explained: “You’ve got to be very smart and do things quite quickly. If you make a mistake, you can be punished.
“The quality of the opposition has gone up a lot as well. I think it’s improved me as a player and I need to try and improve off the pitch, look at replays of the games and try to get better.”
The 21-year-old has had an eventful international break with Lee Carsley’s U21s – he got sent off for the first time in his career in a wild 5-3 defeat to France on Friday, before bouncing back with a goal in the Portugal win.
He played up front as part of a 4-4-2 for the Young Lions last night, another career first.
Omari Hutchinson said he tried to emulate fellow Young Lion and Town star Liam Delap when he played up front for the first time
Omari Hutchinson said he tried to emulate fellow Young Lion and Town star Liam Delap when he played up front for the first time (Image: PA)
Hutchinson enthused: “It’s my first time playing up front in my whole career, so I was just trying to embrace it and enjoy it – it’s something different and the manager trusts me.
“You have to run in behind… I try to think of Liam Delap, try and copy his qualities, it was enjoyable!”
Of the sending off, he added: “It was my first red card. I didn’t think it was really, obviously the challenge was bad but I kind of backed out of it.
“It’s one of those things really, everyone just said it’s ok and let’s focus on Monday’s game.
“I just wanted to perform well (on Monday), my first full match with Cars (Carsley), so I just wanted to play well and try and get a goal or assist and just create for the team.”
Omari Hutchinson says he hopes to play for the England senior side one day – with Lee Carsley telling is players to aim for the World Cup
Omari Hutchinson says he hopes to play for the England senior side one day – with Lee Carsley telling his players to aim for the World Cup (Image: PA)
With new England boss Thomas Tuchel in charge of the senior team, Hutchinson said it’s an exciting time for everyone involved in the national set-up.
“As a kid you dream of playing in the first team, they have a new squad as well,” he explained.
“And things can change quite quickly if you have a good season, you can get called up – just like how Miles Lewis-Skelly is doing.
“Six months can change your life, and that’s what every boy in the 21s is dreaming of. It feels exciting.”
Indeed, Carsley has told his youngsters to dream big.
“He’s made that point, 100%,” Hutchinson said of the potential opportunities under Tuchel.
“He’s even said he wants some of the boys in the 21s now to push on for the World Cup.
“That’s his ambition, and it’s all of our ambitions too, so we just have to keep working in the Premier League or whatever club we’re at, and hopefully the dream comes true.”
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