Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt hopes Manchester City's Stephen Ireland ends his international exile with the Republic of Ireland.

"I have no problem with him coming back nor does anyone else in the Irish squad to the best of my knowledge," Hunt told The Irish Mirror.

"I know what a good player he is. He can see a pass, he can create goals and he is the sort of talented players we need if we are going to qualify for the World Cup.

"Hopefully, Stephen will be with us in Portugal and we can all look forward to the real start of the new era."