Hunt still holding out hope for Euro 2012

NOEL HUNT has admitted that his two-year international exile has left him feeling “hard done by” but the Reading striker hasn’t given up hope of securing a place in the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad.

Hunt won the last of his three caps in a World Cup qualifier in October 2009, starting up front alongside Robbie Keane in a 0-0 draw with Montenegro at Croke Park. But the 27-year-old striker has since dropped down the pecking order, falling behind the likes of Jonathan Walters, Simon Cox and Leon Best.

After last week’s play-off victory over Estonia, Giovanni Trapattoni’s side will be one of the 16 nations to enter the December 2 draw for next summer’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine next summer.