Stephen Hunt: Wolves players are 'on trial'

Stephen Hunt today insisted Wolves are "on trial" for the next month before the transfer window opens.

Sunday's huge clash against Sunderland has an extra dimension with the Black Cats having sacked manager Steve Bruce yesterday, while Wolves chief Mick McCarthy is already under pressure after eight defeats in 10.

But winger Hunt, who is available after suspension, believes the motivation for Wolves' players is to perform well to try to prevent themselves being replaced.

"The way this club is – and has been – it spends money on players to come in and take people's places," said Hunt, who was initially targeted in January 2010 at Hull before signing for £3.5m in the June.

"So with the transfer window coming in the next four or five weeks, everyone is on trial to a certain degree, with the exception of one or two players.

"That means we must all produce our best form over the next three or four weeks."

McCarthy has explained to the squad exactly what is required over the coming weeks.

And, like team-mate Stephen Ward, Hunt has targeted the home games against Sunderland, Stoke and Norwich for a maximum haul with three of the four matches after Christmas away, at Arsenal, Bolton and Tottenham in between Chelsea at Molineux.

"It's an important period for us and we must be looking to get as close as we can to 20 points by January 1," said Hunt.

"That means we've got to be looking to get three wins.

"We know we've got to get points on the board."

Wolves have been criticised for not asking enough questions of the opposition in the defeats at Everton and Chelsea, and behind the scenes, McCarthy admits his team must do more.

"We know how we've got to go about things – the manager has made it clear what he wants from us and we'll have to 'up' our game come Sunday," admitted Hunt. "We've got to play better.

"Everton wasn't a bad example of what we're about because we didn't play that badly. But we need to be effective. That sums my game up and hopefully we can be effective on Sunday."

Wolves Reserves' three-match unbeaten run ended with a 1-0 defeat at home to Liverpool Reserves last night at AFC Telford.