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Hunt has not featured in last two Ireland squads. INPHO/Donall Farmer
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Bad news, Hunty: Wolves winger ruled out for several months

The Ireland international is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after it was confirmed that he will undergo hip surgery.

STEPHEN HUNT’S MISERABLE year is set to continue as news has emerged that he will undergo surgery.

The 31-year-old winger has found opportunities at both club and country hard to come by this season and has struggled with a hip injury.

His only first team action for Wolves, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, has come in the Capital One Cup while it looks as though his international career under Giovanni Trapattoni is effectively over.

After featuring regularly under the Italian, often as a substitute, Hunt hasn’t played since the friendly with Hungary back in June. The Waterford native didn’t get any minutes on the pitch at Euro 2012 and was again left out of the squad to face Germany and the Faroe Islands later this month having failed to make the panel for Ireland’s trip to Kazakhstan.

Wolves boss Stale Solbakken told the club website Wolves.co.uk: ”Hunty has had this problem for a long time where it feels loose around his hip and he needs to have this addressed because he’s 31, not 41 and he has a few years left playing in him.

“I think we saw how he was affected in the Chelsea game and he will need to have an operation. He doesn’t feel 100 per cent and I think he has to do something about it now.

He has tried to play through the pain barrier for quite a few weeks and wanted to impress me but has not been able to do himself justice.”

The former Reading player will now spend several months on the sidelines while he recovers from the operation.

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