McCarthy: Hunt out until October

WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt will not be fit enough to make his debut for the club until October.

Hunt made the £3m move from Hull to Molineux despite facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with the foot injury suffered in February when playing against Wolves.

But McCarthy will not attempt to rush the 28-year-old back into action.

He is aware that Hunt’s absence will not be too damaging because the early part of the campaign is punctuated by two fortnight-long international breaks for European Championship qualifiers.

McCarthy said: “Hunt won’t be fit until maybe October but there’s a good side to that in terms of the two-week breaks in August and September with two Saturdays missed. As always, Hunt’s got a date he thinks he’ll be back, we’ve got a date we think he’ll be back, and there’s a disparity.

“I’ve told him we’ll be going with my date, as I’d sooner have him for six months of the season absolutely spot on because he’ll be a good player for us.”

Meanwhile former England midfielder David Platt has joined Roberto Mancini at Manchester City as the Eastlands club’s first-team coach.