EMMET MALONEprofiles Ireland's exiles who are bidding for promotion to the Premier League with their respective clubs

THERE’S A grim predictability to a great many interviews with footballers who have a tendency to play safe with formulaic answers aimed at the avoidance of controversy.

Thankfully, Stephen Hunt has rarely provided any evidence of having read the PFA manual on the subject. The guy from the Reading FC website who asked the Irishman this week whether tomorrow’s game against Birmingham City will be the biggest of his career, still must have been a little surprised when the midfielder replied: “Well, I had Italy away last month.”

From a personal point of view, Hunt may have a point about that game in Bari but with promotion to the Premier League reckoned to be worth in excess of €50 million to English clubs these days, Reading fans can be forgiven for rating tomorrow’s game at Madejski Stadium as the sport’s major event of 2009.

As it happens, the three contenders to join Wolves in the top flight next season have all gone through spells during the past six months of acting as though promotion is some sort of hot potato.

Reading, in particular, looked to be cruising towards a top two finish at one stage but are only still in with a chance of leapfrogging Sheffield United and Birmingham City this weekend thanks to Shane Long’s two goals at Norwich during the week.

With the three all having played 45 games, the three-way tussle boils down to the fact that in order to finish ahead of Reading, second-placed City must avoid defeat by their rivals tomorrow while they must also at least match United’s result to hang on to second place.

Anything less than a win for City and United can clinch promotion with a victory over Crystal Palace but if Reading win and United fail to then it is Steve Coppell’s side that will be back in the big time. The two clubs to miss out will get a second crack at going up via the play-offs.

Whichever of the three goes up there will be a significant boost to the ranks of Irish players in the Premier League. Reading’s Irish contingent is perhaps the most prominent but the likes of Lee Carsley and Keith Fahey at Birmingham or Paddy Kenny and Stephen Quinn at Sheffield United have played significant roles for their clubs this season.

With Kevin Doyle still not fully fit, Long looks certain to be handed an opportunity to underline his continued progress at Reading with another start in the clash between the second and fourth-placed teams.

The 22-year-old has become known as something of a “super-sub” over the past few seasons but has suggested in recent weeks that he is capable of making a more sustained impact.

“Now is his time,” says Coppell. “He’s very much in the box seat because of his performances and goals recently but it’s time for him to deliver. Goals affect the interpretation of a contribution. What you want is the ball to be held up and stick with him and for defenders to be put under pressure, which he did throughout our win at Norwich on Monday. Can he do it consistently? That is the test.”

Clearly, it would be good for Long to have the opportunity to continue his progression against better defenders next season.

Having made only nine league starts this season his cause might actually be advanced too by Reading missing out as Doyle, like Stephen Hunt, is believed to have a clause in his contract allowing him to leave if an offer of a certain size comes in and the 25-year-old may well move on in the event that promotion is not secured.

Hunt is likely to return to the starting line up for tomorrow’s game as right-sided midfielder Glen Little is expected to miss out due to a hamstring injury. His brother Noel, however, says he is “devastated” to miss out after fracturing a bone in his foot in the team’s last home game and his priority now is to be fit again in time for the club’s pre-season.

Former Irish under-21 international Jay Tabb, meanwhile, is available again after missing the win in Norwich due to illness.

Carsley is expected to return to the Birmingham line up and could be partnered in central midfield by Fahey while Steve Carr is set to retain his place at right back.

For United, Kenny will be in goal again and Quinn should be key in midfield with John Joe O’Toole, who has done well since arriving on loan from Watford.