Stephen Hunt is looking forward to his home debut as he takes the next step towards converting his current pay-as-you-play deal into a permanent contract at Portman Road.

Despite a successful first outing in Town’s 3-2 success at Blackpool, the Republic of Ireland winger knows he still has a long way to before securing his long-term future.

Hunt, 32, has agreed a deal through to January and his performance level in Saturday’s home clash with Leicester will help determine whether he extends his time alongside manager Mick McCarthy or heads elsewhere in the new year.

The pair first got together at previous club Wolves but after McCarthy’s exit in February 2012 the former Reading and Hull player headed out of Molineux at the end of last season when his contract expired and the club had been relegated to League One.

Hunt has used the international break to get to know his new colleagues better but explained: “Having been here in pre-season for a week made it easy coming in when I signed. I knew where I stood with all the boys and just cracked on with it.

“The break has made me hungrier to play to a certain degree. It was a bit of a surprise to play at Blackpool, although I knew I was ready. I had trained for six or seven weeks, if not longer, so all the hard work in the summer gave me confidence going into games. I’ve looked after myself and I was raring to go.”

No player celebrated Daryl Murphy’s last-gasp winner more than his fellow countryman, who was happy to elaborate on his reaction as Town earned their first away win of the season.

Hunt had at one stage looked set to sign for Blackpool only for the proposed deal to collapse in September, at which point it was suggested by manager Paul Ince that the player’s wage demands proved insurmountable.

But Hunt hit back: “I’ve already apologised to Murph for not celebrating with him. I had my own separate agenda. It was all fresh in my mind from the summer and I got carried away a little bit.

“What’s the quote from AP McCoy’s book - victory is better when it’s revenge” or something like that? I’ve never had a bigger insult in my life than for someone to call me greedy in my career. That’s not me.

“I play football, not just for the love of it because I have a family to support, but it hurt, it was remembered and it obviously came out in the goal celebration.

"Paul Ince said to me that his hands were tied and he couldn’t do anything. He also said ‘Now you know where I stand regarding the chairman’, so when he called me greedy three or four days later I was a little bit surprised.

“I can understand him backing his chairman — they’ve got to stick together as a team — but I didn’t need him calling me greedy. That’s one thing I’m not.”

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

Blue_Again added 07:26 - Nov 22 Blah blah blah do the talking on the pitch. Been here 5 minutes get your head down show us you got something to offer. We don't need another chopra full of agendas and this and thats
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Blue_Again added 07:28 - Nov 22 Sorry that was a pre witabix in the morning comment feeling better now. Come on for tomoz let's make it back to back wins and get moving up this crazy league. Smile smile
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muccletonjoe added 07:37 - Nov 22 I would be surprised if he starts the game , depends how things go if he gets on
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Kesgraveblue57 added 09:35 - Nov 22 Stephen Hunt I have always rated him I hope he starts, he is an all action type player it's been years since we have had such a player at Ipswich he will wake the whole team up. It will be hard game Saturday Leicester are a good side
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FenboyBlue added 09:53 - Nov 22 So much news from one player, this is turning into a major Fact Hunt.
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bohslegend added 11:22 - Nov 22 Fact Hunt! :-) Nice one centurion. And the headline on here if ever gets injured will be Hunt Fact! (think about it...)
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TimmyH added 11:36 - Nov 22 Tough game tomorrow but expecting for us to get something out of the game points wise, like to see both Hunt and Taylor start so we show an attacking threat.
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Michael11 added 11:39 - Nov 22 If we signed him 5 years ago i'd be thinking we've signed a really top player, but obviously he's getting on a bit now. That doesn't mean to say he can't do a job. We have a young squad and it's still needs one or two experienced heads in there. If he's working hard and only on a pay as you play basis then fair play to him.
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TimmyH added 11:45 - Nov 22 agreed @Michael11
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Hegansheroes added 16:59 - Nov 22 It will be interesting in January to see if he is offered a contract of any sort. I do find it surprising that he was deemed match fit after only training with the team & taylor had to go out on loan to Peterborough, bit of the old pals act?
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