In the hunt

Stephen Hunt is determined to make his mark in America and beyond.

The Reading midfielder spoke to soccer correspondent, Liam Mackey WITH so many players withdrawn from Ireland’s trip to America, it’s easy for folk to scoff at what they see as the entirely dubious virtue of an end-of-season tour for jaded professionals. But Stephen Hunt isn’t one of them. For the 25-year-old Reading man, it’s all about catching up on lost time at international level and seizing the chance to stake a future claim.

“I haven’t earned the right really, have I? I haven’t had a start,” says the player whose three appearances to date for his country have come off the bench. “So it’s important I come over here to America and impress. It was like with Bobby Convey at Reading — I got in because he was injured. Now, Damien Duff is injured, unfortunately, but I’ve got to take my chance and get in the team and try and establish myself for the European Championships. You can play in pre-season friendlies and end-of-season tours but, when it comes to the crunch, you want to be there and playing. That’s why I want to impress in these games.”