Hunt: I ignored concussion to give Italians a headache

WEDNESDAY night’s qualifier in Bari was probably Stephen Hunt’s best performance in an Irish shirt but the Reading midfielder has revealed that he was concussed for the opening 45 minutes and wasn’t even aware that Italy had scored.

It is an incredible admission given how much Hunt had improved against Italy after what was a disappointing display, both personally and collectively, against Bulgaria in Croke Park last Saturday evening.

“I did better,” said Hunt. “I didn’t remember the first half. I didn’t even know they had scored. I got concussed in the first minute and I didn’t know where I was until half-time. I was hit in the head from a Pirlo free-kick and I didn’t even remember them scoring.”