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Stephen Hunt is confident that his club form can help him become a regular starter in the Republic of Ireland's midfield on the road to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, writes Glenn Mason.
The Reading midfielder started the first two games of this campaign in away fixtures against Georgia and Montenegro, but he was forced to settle for a place on the bench in the win over Cyprus and the friendly defeat to Poland.
Such has been Hunt's prominence when sprung from the bench by Giovanni Trapattoni, that he has been given the 'Super Sub' tag. However, Hunt hopes that his performance and goal against Poland is enough to earn him a return to the starting XI in the near future.
Hunt said: 'Only I can go out and show that I can play for 90 minutes. I do a job for Reading and there is no reason why I can't do it for Ireland.
'Maybe I was disappointing in the games before the Poland game. But I know I can do it and convince the manager of that. I think the manager has faith in me.'
Hunt was pleased with how he and the team performed in the first game against Georgia in Mainz, but acknowledged that Hector Cuper's side will pose a threat should Ireland show any complacency.
'There were difficult events surrounding [the game] but I was happy with the team performance and how I played as an individual. They caused us problems at times and they have a good manager,' warned Hunt.
With their rugby counterparts having led the way with a classy display against France on Saturday, the pressure is now on the footballers to match that performance. Hunt believes he and his team-mates can follow the example set by Declan Kidney's men.
He said: 'It is a World Cup qualifier. I am looking forward to it and, hopefully, we can create a good atmosphere for the fans that come along and that the pitch will have recovered from the rugby.
'We will generate the atmosphere and do it in the first 15 minutes. It is vitally important we pick up wins at home. If we beat Bulgaria [in March] we could take control of the group.'
Despite speculation linking him with a move away from the Madejski Stadium during the January transfer window, Hunt signed an extension to his Reading contract to keep him at the club for another three-and-a-half years.
The lively midfielder admitted that the constant rumours about his situation had affected him but he laughed off suggestions of a proposed move to Everton.
He said: 'It is stressful. The window and all the talk, especially if you are being linked with anyone, takes it out of you. Sometimes the speculation is true and sometimes it is not true. It is behind me now and I am looking forward to the next 14 games.
'I don't know where you got Everton from. I never heard that anyway. Your sources are better than mine.'
