Tigers close in on Hunt

Stephen Hunt, currently preparing for Wednesday’s international with Australia, is on the verge of moving to Hull City after a fee was agreed with current club Reading. Hunt has made no secret of his desire to return to the top flight and could complete a move before the Tigers’ Premier League opener against Chelsea on Saturday.

The 28-year-old is set to hold contract talks with Hull and have a medical, Reading confirmed tonight. The fee involved has not been disclosed.

Hunt, who joined Reading from Brentford in 2005, was the subject of strong interest from Sunderland last year and would add strength and experience to the Hull midfield.

Hunt’s former Reading teammate, Kevin Doyle, will be involved when the Republic of Ireland take on Australia in Limerick, assistant manager Liam Brady has confirmed.

Leon Best is the only injury concern for the Irish management team as they prepare for the match at Thomond Park.

Speaking after training at Cooke Park in Tipperary, where another sizeable crowd turned out to watch the side being put through their paces, Brady announced that Doyle would feature for at least 45 minutes.

The Wolves striker had been considered a doubt with a hernia injury but, having featured for his club at the weekend, is eager to play a part.

"Mick McCarthy threw us a dummy last week when he told me to tell the manager Kevin wouldn't be coming over because he'd picked up a little infection in the wound after the operation,” Brady said today.

"But he rang me again on Saturday to say Kevin would be playing a half hour in a friendly that day and therefore he can have 45 minutes with us.”

Brady expects Giovanni Trapattoni to field as strong a team as possible and build momentum ahead of the final push for World Cup qualification.

"This is a hugely important game because we're still in with a big chance of qualifying for the World Cup next year and this is preparation for the Cyprus game which will be upon us in three weeks' time.

"It's a great chance to try the team that will play against Cyprus and that's the way the manager has been speaking in the last few days. We're going to have a team that will largely be the side that faces Cyprus and we all know how crucial that match is."