Hunt eager to build on selection

WITH GIOVANNI Trapattoni clearly having settled on his tactics and pecking order since taking over this Irish squad just before the summer, there was really only one question outstanding about the team he would start in his first competitive game and that was answered yesterday when the Italian confirmed that Stephen Hunt will replace Damien Duff wide in midfield.

"He is a young player with 100 per cent enthusiasm," observed the manager at the end of the final training session before the team flight to Frankfurt yesterday.

"He helps all his colleagues on the pitch. He understands that he can track back or play in front. For us that is important. There are other players like Duff but we have enough offensive players like McGeady, Keane, Doyle and also Duff who can score a goal."

For Hunt the news marks a good end to what the 27-year-old obviously reckons has been a disappointing week. Trapattoni, though, is determined his players must leave any problems they might have at club level behind them and focus during the months ahead on upsetting international football's applecart by getting the Republic to the next World Cup.

"I said we have to forget what happens in the private situation," said the former Juventus, Bayern Munich and Benfica manager. "It can be a situation in the future. Now we can only think about our situation, the national situation. We can only think about our qualification, about the team and the games with Ireland."

Whatever about his club situation, Hunt's commitment to the cause in Mainz tomorrow is unlikely to be an issue. He prides himself on giving his all and while the Reading player will not realise his ambition to play Premier League football until at least January, proving his worth on the international stage is another important part of his agenda just now. Characteristically, he is not shy about the heights he hopes to scale.

"It is an opportunity for me," he says. "I came in halfway through the last campaign, four or five games into it when we were dead and buried. I'm hoping we start off the campaign well and, in two years' time, I'll be at the World Cup in the starting XI."

Hunt believes he has a good deal to offer the new manager. "I understand fully how he wants me to play," he says, "and I think it suits my game. Whether he has seen enough of me to know that is another thing but I think it suits my game. It suits me in terms of how he wants me to help the full-back out. Just ask Nicky Shorey. He'll tell you."

Under Steve Staunton, Ireland's last qualification campaign came off the rails rather early on but Hunt believes if the five days go well it can be a different story this time around.

"In terms of a good start, we need to be professional and prepare ourselves right but, if we do that, then hopefully we'll get off to a good start. I hope the right mentality will get us the right results.

"It's difficult to say exactly what we can get but, if we play to our maximum, six points - that's if we play to our potential. They are two difficult games, Georgia caused problems to Scotland last time (in the European qualifiers) but we have standards that we need to raise and hopefully we can do it this weekend."

The change of location has not made much difference to players well used to spending most of these trips in hotel lobbies and rooms but Hunt is conscious of how the switch might be used by Hector Cuper to motivate his men.

"Make no mistake about it," he says, "their manager will use that as a plus point for them. It'll be: 'they wanted the game changed out of our country, who do they think they are?' All that kind of the stuff. It'll come, no doubt about it. If I was the manager I'd say it. It will be a help for them in terms of motivation but we'll see whether it makes a difference."

The opposition may be that bit more hyped up but one small positive about the match venue being switched to Germany from Hunt's point of view is the fact that prospects of seeing Sunday's All-Ireland final will be that little more assured.

"I think the FAI have sorted it out that we will get the game shown live to us," he says, starting to look a little excited by the thought of a first final in 45 years for the county where he grew up.