Assuming that Wes Burns is out of action with a hamstring strain, how would this impact upon our season, and how much would we miss him? It is impossible to say.
First of all, we do not know how serious it is. It could be nothing more than a light tear – or something much more debilitating that could keep him out of action for weeks, or even months! Anyone who has ever played football will be familiar with that sharp sudden pain at the back of the thigh, and in worse-case scenarios, the level of discomfort can be excruciating! Wales manager Rob Page sent him back to Ipswich because he did not want to risk him exacerbating his injury through further involvement, and this suggests it is probably not so serious. Let us hope so anyway.
The next question is much easier to answer, and that is who will replace him? Omari Hutchinson is the obvious choice. He has pace to burn and he is very skillful. Some people might even argue that this 19-year-old is as good if not better than the Welshman. He might be on loan, and with aspirations of playing football at a much higher level, but when I have watched him, I have seen a player who genuinely wants to impress! Although he was born in England, Hutchinson is of Jamaican descent.
He was a youth international for England at under 17 and under 19 levels but changed allegiances to Jamaica and made his full debut with them in a 1–0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago on the 11th of March 2023. He made his professional debut on the 5th of January 2023, in a 1–0 home defeat against Manchester City. He has a bright future in the game, and I think that he could prove to be a real asset this season for Town. On Saturday, away at Sheffield Wednesday, he has the chance to prove me right!
