EDDIE Hutchinson looks likely to be out for a month after the Oxford United midfielder hobbled off against Woking on Boxing Day.

The former Brentford player has had an X-ray which shows nothing broken, but suggests possible ligament damage.

U's physio Neil Sullivan said: "We weren't sure whether it was his ankle, but the X-ray shows it's his foot.

"There may be ligament damage which would mean he'd be out for a while."

Manager Jim Smith said the final diagnosis hadn't come through.

"We can't tell yet because there's still a lot of swelling and bruising," he said.

"They thought it was a metatarsal and that means a long time out, then it wasn't, and now it's most likely ligaments, but until it all settles down you can't really tell.

"Yesterday they were talking a fortnight, now they're talking a worse scenario."

If a ligament in his foot is torn, Hutchinson could be out for six weeks.

It's a frustrating blow both for the player and for the Nationwide Conference leaders.

But it has merely strengthened Smith's opinion that he needs to boost the midfield department when the transfer window opens next week.

"It's very disappointing," he said. "We've got injuries at the wrong time because we've also got Chris Willmott out.

"When he was starting to play, Eddie looked as though he was on the job. He looked as though he was going to give us a good game and then he got injured.

"We're very light in midfield, and we need to address that."

Carl Pettefer has also been on the treatment table quite a bit this month, and Smith says the former Southend man is a doubtful starter for tomorrow's home game against Crawley.

"Hutch won't play, obviously, and Chris Hargreaves comes into contention for a midfield position.

"Carl's still injured so I'm not fully confident of what team it will be until maybe even just before the game on Saturday," United's manager admitted.

The U's boss also has to take into account that the team are in action again 46 hours later at Exeter.

"Pettefer should be OK, but we've got to look at the fact that we've got a game on New Year's Day," Smith added.