Hunt opens up about Euro hurt

2012 has been an annus horribilis for Stephen Hunt, 12 months during which his Euro dreams turned to dust and his very career as a top-flight player appeared to be threatened by injury.

Once one of the Irish squad’s most high-profile personalities, the Wolves man has been in danger of becoming a forgotten man but now, as he puts everything into regaining full fitness following a hip operation, the 31-year-old insists he can still win back his place for club and country.

The physical part of his recovery is ongoing but Hunt admits the emotional blow of failing to get on the pitch in Poland this summer has also taken a long time to overcome.

“I put up all my eggs in the one basket for the Euros,” he said.

“I obviously wanted Wolves to do well, but everyone’s main objective was to be fit for the Euros. Hence why the Euros was such a disappointment for me. Maybe Trapattoni had seen that I wasn’t 100% fit, though I still think I should have played certain parts of it, for sure — at least have started one of the games in terms of what I could do for the team and what I had done for the team.

“I’m not here today to boost my own ego, but I believe in what I can do. So from that point of view I’m disappointed, gutted and heart-wrenched over the Euros. And it’s taken me until now to get over it, to a certain degree.”

Of course, Hunt wasn’t the only squad member who failed to see action in the summer but, unlike Darron Gibson, he says he never considered stepping back from the international scene.

“I was pissed off, 100%,” he said. “Angry, yes. Heartbroken, yes. But no, I never thought about not wanting to play. That’s me. People are different. I can understand where Darron Gibson is coming from and I can see why he is angry.

“I can see why Stephen Kelly got frustrated, two squads ago, or whenever, he had a meltdown [laughs] and then decided to come back and thought ‘Jesus, I have to play for my country’. Because he’s a good lad. He probably thought, ‘Crikey, he might not pick me again’, because the manager is stubborn. The manager is ruthless.

“But I do like him and I think he is the right man for the job and that’s coming from a person who didn’t play. I told him I was frustrated and angered, especially after the Italy game. I was heartbroken and very upset after the game. But there’s experienced players like Damien Duff that say things to you that mean a lot to you, and you take it to the grave with you when you go. So you crack on.”

Deepening the sense disappointment for Hunt was that he says Marco Tardelli had indicated he would in fact play some part in the final game against Italy.

“I was meant to be playing the last game,” he said.

“The assistant [told me]. But, to be fair, I can also see why he [Trapattoni] didn’t bring me on. He told me the reason was we were goals down and needed two, and I 100% understand where he’s coming from, but I also expressed my feelings that I could have been effective.

“My way, it’s not sometimes the most pleasing but it’s effective and I know how I play, and what to do to disturb teams.”

According to Hunt, the manager told him after the Euros that he would need him for the next campaign but his injury problems have put paid to any hopes of a place in the squad. To make matters worse for the player, in his absence James McClean and Robbie Brady have emerged as contenders on the wing, with competition for that spot made even more intense by Trapattoni’s habit of playing strikers out wide.

Yet Hunt remains convinced he can still be in with a chance of staking a claim by the time the World Cup qualifiers resume in March.

“He [Trapattoni] is also talking about experience, and he played Duffer in that position with his experience,” he pointed out.

“So I automatically thought, ‘do you know what, I could actually take over his role to a certain degree’. I always used to hate wearing number seven so to wear 11 would be nice to wear every now and again. I’ve no doubt the manager believes in me. But first it’s up to me to get fit and try and get back to my best.”

nRepublic of Ireland star Stephen Hunt launches Blue Square Bet’s sponsorship of the John Durkan Memorial Chase Day at Punchestown Racecourse on Sunday Dec 9. Visit www.bluesq.com for more information.