Published: Thursday, 9th October, 2008 09:00
Hunt: `I remember nothing'
By Anthony Smith
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Lost weekend: Noel Hunt's memory of the Burnley game is non-existent.
NOEL Hunt has revealed that scoring against Burnley last weekend has left a massive hole in his memory.
In an exclusive Chronicle interview, the Reading striker has told how he is still suffering from the after-effects of a sharp blow to the temple following an accidental collision with Clarets skipper Steven Caldwell in Saturday’s 3-1 win at the Madesjki Stadium.
Nearly a week on and the 25-year-old has no recollection of his goal or of the game itself and he struggles to retain any new information.
The 25-year-old Irishman said: “People tell me I scored a good goal but I have no recollection of it. I saw it on video for the first time on Monday. But I don’t remember anything about Saturday at all, getting up in the morning, going to bed, going to the game, playing the game.
“It is so strange. I’ve never had an injury like it before.”
Hunt was caught flush on the side of his head by Caldwell’s shoulder as he directed Jimmy Kebe’s cross into the net with just four minutes on the clock. He was treated for concussion by Royals physio Jon Fearn and returned to the pitch five minutes later.
But it soon became clear the Irishman was still in a daze when he did not know at which end of the pitch to line-up for a corner.
“If I can’t remember it now I don’t know where my mind would have been at the time,” he admitted. “I’m not even sure who I collided with but I don’t think he meant it or anything like that.
“I know Owen Coyle as well from St Johnson but I don’t even remember if I spoke to him before or after the game.”
Hunt was eventually taken off in the 25th minute but Royals stopped short of sending him for a brain scan- not that he knew it. “I don’t know if I had a scan or anything,” he said. “Sorry, I have no idea. It’s very hazy.”
He spent the next two days in the company of Royals striker Shane Long as his brother, Stephen, went away on a short break straight after Saturday’s game.
“I remember waking up on Sunday morning in Shane’s house,” explained Hunt. “The club didn’t want me left on my own for 48 hours and my brother, Stephen, was away. I didn’t know anything about that either, or even why I was in Reading really.
“Shane told me we went out for dinner with his family on Saturday night. But the memories are just not there. Things are slowly coming back not but the whole of Saturday and most of Sunday is a blur.
“I still don’t remember much about last week either. I remember the Wolves game on the Tuesday but after that only small bits and pieces. I don’t recall talking to people a couple of days ago.
“I rang my dad Sunday morning then rang my mum. Then I rang my dad again to tell him I was okay and he said `I know, you told me five minutes ago.’ Those things are still happening, it’s strange.”
Hunt also suffered injuries to his knee and shoulder in the collision and he will miss a friendly match between a Republic of Ireland XI and Nottingham Forest at Dublin’s Dalymount Park tonight (Thursday), a game in which Long is expected to play.
“Ireland is too much of a risk,” he stated. “It’s gutting but it’s totally understandable. Hopefully I’ll be fine in a few days. I must do nothing for a while then see how it is because I think there’s a bit of swelling there.”
Royals expect Hunt to be fit for their next game at Preston on Saturday week. The £600,000 Dundee United signing is in red-hot form with four goals in five Championship starts and he is forming a prolific partnership with eight-goal Kevin Doyle.
“It’s going well,” he declared. “I’m trying to keep a one-in-two ratio. At the moment it’s nearly one-in-one and I’m hoping I will be fit for Preston.
“I feel okay. I have trained a bit this week, just a light jog and some ball work, and we will see how it goes.”
Unlike many other sports, there is no mandatory procedure for treating head injuries in football.
Royals physio Jon Fearn explained: “When I first went onto the pitch he was fine. He knew where he was and he was fully conscious of his surroundings and his present state.
“Not until after the event did it become apparent that he wasn’t able to create new memories - he couldn’t retain new information and it was obvious his memory development was not right. But he’s getting better.”
And Royals boss Steve Coppell stated: “There’s nothing compulsory in football It’s not like jockeys or in rugby where you have set guidelines. It’s all still a blur to Noel.”
Hunt was forced to delve deep into his memory bank when the conversation turned to Reading’s busy schedule which follows this weekend’s international break.
“We’ve got a tough period ahead with Preston away, then I think we’re home to Doncaster, then we’re away again, sorry I mean home, then away to Burnley. I Hope I can remember playing against them this time.”
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