Soccer-Eduardo can make full recovery like me, says Hutton

By Chloe Fussell

LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Arsenal striker Eduardo can make a full recovery from his broken leg, according to Tottenham Hotspur defender Alan Hutton, who suffered a similar injury while he was at Rangers.

The Brazilian-born Croatia international suffered a fractured left fibula and an open dislocation of his ankle joint after a tackle by Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor during Saturday's 2-2 league draw at St Andrews.

"I saw it again on the highlights and I couldn't watch it. I was cringing because I was thinking about the next day when I was lying about in hospital seeing all the papers, and actually you could see how far my leg was gone," Hutton told a news conference at Spurs' training ground on Thursday.

"It's a real hard thing to take but I know what he went through and it will take a long time but I'm sure he will get back to playing the way he can."

The 23-year-old, who still has a metal rod and screw in his right leg after a tackle on Kilmarnock's Garry Hay in 2005, was sidelined for eight months with his injury.

Two years after his return, the Scot was snapped up by League Cup winners Tottenham on a four-year deal and he said his first weeks at the north London club had been eye-opening.

"It's been a whirlwind, the first few games -- being thrown in against Manchester United was brilliant, obviously playing against Derby, then the cup final -- it's been a great experience for me and hopefully we can go from strength to strength and keep playing matches like that," he said.

The Scot also praised manager Juande Ramos as one of his main reasons for moving south.