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Hunt Out to Emulate Skuse - Ipswich Town News

Stephen Hunt has said he soon hopes to emulate Town team-mate Cole Skuse and claim his first goal for the club.

Skuse broke his 81-game duck in spectacular style to score his side’s second goal in Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over Cardiff and Hunt, still to net in his first 40 appearances, heaped praise on his fellow midfielder.

He said: "Cole’s goal was very important on Tuesday night and I’m delighted for him because he’s a player who doesn’t get enough plaudits. He’s been outstanding for us, especially in the last six or seven games when he’s been phenomenal.

"When he got his 10th booking of the season the other night I thought it would mean a suspension. I was telling him during the game ‘Come on, keep going lad. Forget about the booking, it’s only a couple of games you are going to miss’.

"But thankfully there’s no ban and he’s available [the deadline passed last Sunday], which is great because he’s vitally important for us. He’s actually a very good player, not just a steady Eddie type.

"His passing and in particular his choice of pass has been phenomenal for the Championship, where you have to play certain areas and certain balls. He knows the right ball to play every time.”

Hunt also paid tribute to top scorer and fellow countryman Daryl Murphy, who took his tally for the season to 24 in the Cardiff game and reinforced his position as the Championship’s leading marksman.

He laughed: "He’s a striker, he gets paid to score goals. But seriously, to score 24 league goals is phenomenal and he deserves all the plaudits he gets. Hopefully he can score a few more before the end of the season and get us promoted.

"I know my first goal is long overdue but I’ve a good feeling about what’s going to happen this season. Three years ago, when I scored for Wolves against Blackburn on the final day of the season, I had said to my missus six months earlier that I would score the goal to keep us up.

"I swear on my kid’s life that was what happened. I was convinced something was going to happen that year and I’ve got a good feeling about this year too, although only time will tell.”

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