Stephen Hunt makes his return

Wolves winger Stephen Hunt is today closing in on a first-team return.

The Republic of Ireland international made his comeback from two-month lay-off with a calf injury in last night's 2-0 reserve defeat to Manchester City at Telford.

Hunt played the first half at left midfield and the second at left-back in a testing 90-minute run-out.

And boss Mick McCarthy believes the 29-year-old could challenge for a first-team place again sooner rather than later.

He said: "Having 90 minutes at Telford on a Monday night won't affect him at all for Saturday against Everton.

"I wasn't looking at him specifically though and there's no story that Hunt is coming back in the team - each and every one of them has a chance of coming back in. He was itching for a game.

"I'm sure he was disappointed not to be involved at the weekend, but such is life.

"We'd had a great run of results and there was no need to change it. But he hadn't had a game."

Hunt was part of a strong reserve side full of players pushing for places with Steven Mouyokolo, Jody Craddock, Michael Mancienne, Stephen Ward, Michael Kightly, Adlene Guedioura and David Jones all involved.

McCarthy said: "It's nice to have a squad of players where if someone is injured or plays badly for a number of games then we've got someone to change them with."

Development coach Steve Weaver believes Hunt has pushed himself towards contention.

Weaver said: "It's amazing how that 90 minutes will bring him on. That was Adlene's second game but Hunt's first after two months out, which is a long time.

"Hunt was happy. Training is fine - and our training is intense - but there's no substitute for playing.

"Players such as Kightly, Adlene and Hunt have been fit and training for quite a while, but not match-fit."