Hunt looking to fill Duff's boots

Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt will use tomorrow's friendly against Bolivia to stake his claim to Damien Duff's place in autumn's Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The Reading player was impressive down both wings and at set-pieces for the Republic of Ireland in Wednesday night's 1-1 draw against Ecuador at Giants Stadium.

And, with Newcastle United winger Duff ruled out for six months following foot surgery, Hunt is in prime position to claim his role for September's crucial ties in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

In the build-up to Wednesday's game in New Jersey, Ireland boss Steve Staunton conceded that he would have to plan without Duff for the remaining qualifying matches and appeared to put Hunt at the front of the queue ahead of Celtic's Aidan McGeady and former Under-21 star Ronnie O'Brien, now with Toronto FC in the MLS.

'It's on my mind to get into the starting XI for sure, but we'll have to wait and see.'

'Competitive games are very different and people react differently when they're playing in bigger games. Hopefully come next September I'll be selected to play against the Czechs and Slovakia.

'I know I'm ready to play but it's up to the manager.'

Hunt was buoyed by the overall team performance against Ecuador.

He added: 'I think we did all right and played some good football given that the state of the pitch wasn't the best. We got on with it though and had a few chances cleared off the line.

'We created an awful lot of our chances through set-pieces so we could deliver from right and left and in the end I think we were a bit unlucky not to win the game.

'Hopefully this can continue because we enjoyed this. Playing in the daytime tomorrow will be a lot hotter but I'm looking forward to it.'

Staunton will check on a knock to captain Kevin Kilbane before he picks a team to face Bolivia now that the team have arrived in Boston after a four-hour road trip yesterday from New Jersey.

Staunton said: 'Obviously we'll have to see what the injuries are and that will dictate what happens but Kevin Doyle, for instance, needs to get a lot of football in at this level to learn the game.

'It will be his ninth cap on Saturday and we'll try and get people in that will help.

'I thought Kevin was excellent (against Ecuador) both as captain and in his all-around play. Unfortunately he took a knock and we'll have to wait and see.'