Not one for playing the waiting game

INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN HUNT: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to the Reading and Republic of Ireland midfielder who wants a return to the top flight

BEING IN Stephen Hunt's company will never be boring, that's for sure. At a media gathering during the recent qualifiers, the Reading winger had just learned about his club blocking a move back to the Premier League with Everton. He was seething and filled every reporter's copy quota for the day by expressing his disgust.

"How many papers did you sell the last day because of my rant?" he asked no one in particular after another illuminating period speaking to the fourth estate in Dublin yesterday. Hunt was over to promote the return of Mars' - 'work, rest and play' campaign along with Dublin footballer Alan Brogan.

Anyway, he was straight down to business and thankfully there were plenty of topics up for discussion, like the rise of little brother Noel as Kevin Doyle's strike partner at Reading; the "ghost goal" against Watford at the weekend; how fame hasn't changed him; the specific task he does for Giovanni Trapattoni and the most newsworthy topic of all: his burning ambition to return to top-flight soccer as soon as possible.

Has there been any fallout at Reading or with the fans since your last interview? "I haven't even spoken to the manager about it. Maybe I need to speak to him about it. He's been good as gold with me. Obviously I was disappointed with the way the club dealt with the situation at the time but I understood where they are coming from but it's just one of those things where you have to get your head down and work hard. There is no point crying about it now as there is no (transfer) window."

The problem with playing well and keeping Reading in the promotion race is it decreases his chances of an immediate return to the Premiership in the January window.

"I see where you are coming from but I think I've set goals in terms of performance levels. If I can achieve that then someone will really want to buy me. If someone wants to buy me they know the situation that I am in and they'll pay the money.

"I have to do really well and obviously that will benefit Reading and benefit myself. The most important thing is the team wins. We've built a good team spirit over the last few years; we wouldn't even contemplate getting bad results to justify a move. It's not right."

Noel Hunt was initially credited with the opening goal in the 2-2 draw with Watford even though it was clearly struck into the side-netting.

"We had a few friends over and they had money on him to score first. (The bookies) paid out at half-time and they went to get their money at the end of the game and they wouldn't pay out at full-time.

"It's the worst decision I've ever seen or been involved in, that's for sure. I felt sorry for the linesman (Nigel Bannister) in fairness.

"It wasn't the referee's (Stuart Attwell) fault. He is a young referee and has done a couple of games this year and he's been good so hopefully he won't be punished.

"Maybe in a different match I might have given them a goal. It did cross my mind but I think I might have got hit by a few of my team-mates. Just as well I didn't."

As you may have gathered Hunt is not your average, cocooned footballer.

He has worked hard to get where he is and has no intention of letting it slip away, hence, the one-track determination to play at the highest level.

"The desire to win games is the most important thing and once you still have that you are fine. I haven't really changed as a person. I still like the same things that I used to do. I play a few games of golf or whatever. Go out once every three months, once every two months. Let off a bit of steam and I am happy. That's the way I see life; I work hard Monday to Friday, play the game on Saturday and generally just relax at home Saturday evening. Pretty much the same routine.

"Life is good like, I've a bit of a cold but apart from that . . . "

We ask about the imminent threat to his Irish place by the return of Damien Duff. As he is explaining the benefits of Duff's return Eamonn Coghlan walks into the room.

"Sorry lads, can I just say goodbye to this former athlete. You know he won the Irish schools 1,500 metres 90 years after I did."

The Chairman of the Boards exits. Is that true? "No."

It is put to Hunt that he must work harder to hold off more skilled wing merchants like Aiden McGeady and Duff.

"No. End product. How many goals you score. How many crosses you get into the box from the winger. That's the way I judge it.

"I know a lot of press and stuff is built around my work ethic but at the same time I got seven goals last year, three this year, two from the spot. It's important that you have end product. I've the most crosses in the division this year. One of my aims is to get plenty of crosses in.

"In terms of ability, McGeady has tricks but you've got to play to your strengths and the way I see it if I get in the box I'll get enough goals." And yet, the Waterford man remains central to Trapattoni's master plan because of this innate willingness to run himself into the dirt.

"I think work ethic for a winger is vital but he must have played with some wingers he didn't like 'cause he wants his wingers to work hard.

"He expects you to have the desire and the fitness levels to be in the box to score goals as well. All he wants us to do is get forward and get back. He wants the same pace going forward as going back. Both ways with the same desire. It is not a problem in terms of energy levels and you have to be fit, that's for sure. At the same time you don't mind playing like that when you get to go to Italy."

Next up a certain issue must be settled with Cyprus at Croke Park on October 15th. "It has been mentioned by a few of the players, their desire to beat Cyprus.

"It was the worst experience I had in an Irish jersey. It would be nice to put that right. Definitely. It was a bad night in terms of Cyprus came and passed around us. They shouldn't be doing that."