Hunt: Hope They Give Berra Some Stick!
Friday, 17th Apr 2015 14:05

Stephen Hunt isn’t sure what reaction he’ll get from the Wolves’ faithful when he returns to Molineux with Town on Saturday — but hopes team-mate Christophe Berra is given a hard time by their old supporters.

The pair, along with boss Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor, are heading back for a game that will go a long way towards determining which of the two clubs is likely to snap up the last of the four play-off places, although results elsewhere could mean that both end up qualifying.

Hunt had his ups and downs during his three years at Molineux, helping them to beat the drop on the last day of his first season but then suffering successive relegations, and he is intrigued as to how the fans will welcome him back.

He said: “When we stayed up the first year I was there they were great but we got relegated the following year and they were frustrated with the chairman.

"Since then the chairman has shown his loyalty and stuck with them — he hasn’t jumped ship and everyone is pulling together again. The club has been rejuvenated and they are in a good place at the moment.

“I remember a time when I was out for six months after a hip operation and when I returned I was booed off after about 70 minutes.

“I had only trained for two days before the game so I had a go back at them. I told them to start supporting the team instead of hammering the players and I think that helped me. I think they respected me in the end for that.”

Hunt and Berra are not only former team-mates they are good friends and share a house in the Ipswich area, and although the Scottish international central defender failed to score in 154 appearances for Wolves he has netted 10 goals in 90 outings in almost two seasons at Portman Road.

Six of his goals have come in the current campaign and Hunt added: “Hopefully Berra will get a bit of stick from their fans. He probably will do but if I was them I’d cheer us because that might keep us a bit quieter.

“Berra has been exceptional since he’s been here and nothing fazes him to be honest. He’s gone on a level since he was at Wolves, he’s picked his game up, he’s matured and he’s flying.”

Meanwhile, Hunt has explained why he rates McCarthy as the best of all the managers he has played for, adding: “When I was at Wolves with him he came with a reputation but I think he’s matured as a manager. He’s certainly great to work for and I’m enjoying my second spell with him.

“He’s totally honest with you. There’s no way you can tell him that you played well if you didn’t because he knows his players inside out.

"He’ll always be straight with you and tell you how you played and what you have to do to get in the team. He’s the boss and he makes sure you know it, which in itself is a skill.

“If you’re a player here and you have to leave you’re going to be sad. Ipswich players want to stay here for as long as they can because when you report for training you are happy to see the gaffer.

“He’s never hiding in the corner by himself and if anyone comes in and steps out of line he’s quick to get him back on track and make sure we’re all pulling in the same direction.

“I suppose he sees me as a bubbly, lively character but when you’re not playing you’re not happy either. He wants to see a determination that you want to get back in the team and he’s looking for players to show the necessary hunger. I might have knocked on his office door and said a few things but it makes no difference.

“He’s the boss and you have to make sure you know that. You can feel whether a manager is calm or anxious in the build-up to a big game and he has been pretty calm this week. He’s been the same since I’ve come here so it’s been pretty good.”

Photo: Action Images

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