That is indeed what we were told.
He lost his place through injury, not through being dropped. He's only recently returned to fitness, and Petrovic has been doing well enough enough to keep the jersey.
I tend to agree with the OP, and I think we also need a bit of consistancy at the back. My preferred back five for an extended run wold be Verbruggen, Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk and Estupinan - although I think maybe Lamptey instead of Pervis for three or four games, to get him up to speed and to...