Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk has suggested that Sam Hutchinson’s previous record with injuries are part of the reason for him being left out of the squad, and that the midfielder could be set for a continued absence.

Hutchinson, alongside Keiren Westwood, has been frozen out of Sheffield Wednesday’s first team squad over the last few weeks, with the midfielder having not featured in any of the Owls’ last five Championship squads, despite Monk’s side struggling for form.

The 30-year-old’s last appearance for the Owls came in their 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup last month, but the midfielder was forced off with an injury in the early stages of the second period, but despite returning to training Monk has made the decision to keep him out of the squad.

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Speaking to the Sheffield Star, ahead of Sheffield Wednesday’s meeting with Birmingham City on Saturday, Monk revealed that Hutchinson’s absence has been down to his previous record with injury troubles and that he will continue to pick the squad on the present value of each player, rather than past performances.

He said: "I've said it before, about my understanding of changing rooms and understanding what you need.

"Sam is similar to Keiren. The availability that he's had and the continuity has not been there.

"I totally understand that (whether Hutchinson's style of play could be useful in current situation), but I don't judge people on what they've done in the past. I don't judge people on what's written down on a piece of paper on their CV.

"I judge on what they're doing here and now. I see what they're doing every day, I'm the one that works with them every day. I see what's required and what's needed."

The verdict

It seems like Hutchinson could be set to spend the rest of the campaign out of the squad following these comments, with Monk seemingly casting his vision towards the present and future of his squad during the last 13 matches of the Championship season.

The midfielder will likely be one of the players to leave the club in the summer, and that could be a reason why Monk is deciding to focus on playing the players that he knows will likely be at the club next term, where he will be hoping to build a side capable of sustaining a promotion challenge.

Hutchinson has undoubtedly been a good servant for the Owls during his time at the club, and it would be disappointing were he to end his time with Sheffield Wednesday being frozen out of the first team squad, Monk, though, is right that the midfielder has suffered numerous issues with injury over the past few seasons.

It is a difficult situation, with Hutchinson capable of adding the sort of battling qualities that the club are in need of given their current form, but Monk seems to be intent on not playing players for the sake of it, which suggests that the midfielder could well have already played his last game of the campaign.