Isaac Hutchinson has admitted that his first six months at Bristol Rovers have “been tough at certain times” but the attacking midfielder believes he is starting to overcome initial struggles.
The 24-year-old was the first of 16 signings to be announced during the summer in what was a major squad overhaul, arriving from League Two side Walsall after Rovers met his release clause.
Hutchinson had spent two years at the Bescot Stadium, scoring a combined 23 goals and registering 19 assists. However, 15 goals and 12 assists came in his second campaign with the Saddlers, who are currently cruising to promotion it would seem.
It’s no secret that the playmaker struggled to make an initial impression to his new supporters with ex-manager Matt Taylor limiting the former Derby County prospect to just two league appearances within nine games during a period between September and October.
Since, Hutchinson has blown hot and cold in blue-and-white quarters but seems to gradually be headed towards more of the former under new head coach Inigo Calderon.
The 24-year-old scored his second League One goal for the Gas against Barnsley last time out at home and, ahead of Rovers hosting Peterborough United on Sunday, confessed to Bristol Live that he feels that he’s starting to overcome a tough start to life in north Bristol.
“Yeah I moved to the city and, to be fair, I found somewhere quite early to live,” Hutchinson reflected on his move to the South West back in June. “So all of that was pretty done and dusted quite quickly. But yeah, like with anything, it’s definitely taken time.
“I’ve gone to clubs and you hit the ground running and it’s great and you’re playing every week and it feels positive and then sometimes it doesn’t happen like that. It’s not unheard of and probably has been the case for a few of us, do you know what I mean? Where it’s been tough and yeah, some of that’s down to things that are out of your control. Some of it’s not.
“So it’s always tough and yeah, I think it probably wasn’t the ideal start for me personally and it’s been tough at certain times, but I feel like I’ve come out the other side of that to be honest.
“I’ve never felt unsettled within the city and within the team because I think we’ve got a good group of boys and, I mean, when you’ve got family with you and stuff as well it’s not too bad.
“But yeah, with the football side of things, it’s hard when it doesn’t go your way straight away but I feel like I’m out the other side of that now.”
Hutchinson’s career path so far certainly hasn’t been straightforward. The former Brighton and Hove Albion youth product spent just over two years at Southend United, playing two seasons in League One before stepping up to the Championship level with Derby County, albeit to initially play in the Rams’ under-21s, following the Essex side’s relegation to League Two.
The prematurely curtailed 2019/20 season was the midfielder’s last League One campaign before joining Rovers, remaining in the fourth tier for loan spells at Forest Green Rovers and Crawley Town before making a permanent move to Walsall in 2022 having made just one Championship appearance for Derby.
As a division, League One arguably hasn’t been as high profile as it has been this season with clubs like Birmingham City and Wrexham coming into it and Hutchinson believes that in the four-and-a-half years since his last appearance in the third tier, the standard of the league has grown considerably.
“Last time I played in League One four, five years ago for Southend, the standard’s totally different,” the playmaker declared. “I feel like it’s improved a ridiculous amount and obviously part of that’s due to the money. The standard of the players in the league now has gone up. I think it’s everything. Physically, technically, tactically; it’s all improving.
“I wouldn’t say any of that has been an issue for me as such. I feel like it’s all been down to confidence and that sort of thing with regards to joining a new team and trying to maybe do what’s expected of you or do what you think other people want from you too much and overthinking and that sort of stuff.
“I feel like since I got a run in the team and was able to get that out of my head, I feel like I was much better off and in a place now where I feel like I’m being myself a lot more and I feel like I’ve shown that on the pitch.
“Last season I was in a place where I’m settled and comfortable and everyone knows what you’re doing and you as a person and how you play off the back of a season before. So yeah, I mean it’s all a learning game, really.”
After starts against Barnsley and Wigan, Hutchinson found himself back on the bench on Tuesday night for Rovers’ 2-0 defeat to Charlton, coming off early in the second half and looking bright.
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The hope will be that a place in the starting line up is there for him once again on Sunday when the Gas host Peterborough, as the 24-year-old continues his bid to become one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Although it may seem slightly premature now, Sky Sports picked the fixture for television coverage back in November and, actually, the context is rather significant but maybe for reasons not foreseen at that point.
Posh, like Rovers, have seriously struggled this campaign and are just one place and two points above the Gas in the league table with just four points separating Calderon’s side from the relegation zone.
However, with the game selected for television coverage, Hutchinson admitted that there is a slightly added distinctiveness surrounding the game with family members expected to gather round a TV to watch.
“My family will all be probably around my dad’s house. It’s obviously nice for them. I think for any mate or family, it’s always nice to see someone you know or your family member on TV and doing what they love.
“So yeah, it’d be nice for them and hopefully it can be an enjoyable moment because they probably had a few where it’s not been enjoyable as well sat around the telly.
“It definitely makes a difference even with the travelling and stuff,” Hutchinson added on playing at home. “With us being where we are in the country, every away game feels like a slog, do you know what I mean? Especially over the weekend when you go to Wigan and then Charlton. It’s been a long few days for us and it can play a part.
“So yeah, we look forward to just being at home, being settled and being able to sort of do our normal thing and hopefully it can be positive.”