REPUBLIC OF IRELAND defender Paul McShane expressed the hope yesterday that Stephen Hunt will stick around to help Hull City battle their way out of relegation trouble despite persistent interest from clubs aiming to lure the winger away from the KC Stadium.

“If he wants to go he would be a big miss,” said McShane of his team-mate who has been the subject of three bids from relegation rivals Wolves during the current transfer window. “He has done very well here, he has worked really hard and scored a few vital goals. He gives 100 per cent on the training ground and pitch and certainly gets his rewards from it. He is full of enthusiasm and that rubs off on people.

“I think they are just trying to nick one of our good players. But he’s been involved in transfer sagas before. He knows how to deal with it and just lets it happen, doesn’t let anything really bog him down or get in the way of his football. He is not getting unsettled by it.”

Manager Phil Brown says he has “no doubt” Hunt will still be a Hull player when Monday afternoon’s deadlines passes but the persistent interest in the Waterford man, who has scored five times since arriving from Reading during the summer, appears to have forced him into offering an improved contract at a time when he is supposed to be cutting wages, with Brown admitting the pair have had “tentative” talks about a new deal.

Robbie Keane’s future at Spurs continued to be a topic of speculation yesterday after the Londoners wrapped up the signing of former Barcelona and Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen from Monaco. The Dubliner has been linked with possible loan moves to West Ham and Celtic, although it’s hard to see the Scots matching the striker’s wages at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has long been an admirer, however, and could make a bid if it seems the Ireland captain is ready to be moved on by Harry Redknapp before Monday evening.

One factor in determining Keane’s fate will be whether Roman Pavlyuchenko departs the club. Birmingham City have had one bid for the Russian rejected and are said to be unwilling to allow Tottenham to recoup the €15 million or so they paid for him a year and a half ago.

Former Derry City goalkeeper David Forde has signed a contract extension at Millwall, with the 30-year-old committing himself to the New Den outfit until 2013.