Hunt: We can be heroes
Stephen Hunt
Stephen Hunt has urged his Ireland team-mates to grasp the chance to become national heroes by qualifying for Euro 2012.
Giovanni Trapattoni's side will bring an end to a long season against Macedonia on Saturday night looking for a victory in Skopje which would maintain their challenge for qualification from Group B.
Wolves midfielder Hunt said: "We will always be an average team until we qualify, and then we could be heroes if things go well."
Ireland have not reached the finals of a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup in the Far East, and have suffered a number of near misses since to leave both the players and the fans desperate to end their wait.
"We will sort ourselves out, look ahead to Macedonia and take it from there," added Hunt. "It will be very competitive. They kicked lumps out of us at our place, so it will be competitive, and they are at home, so it will be difficult, but we are looking to win it."
Ireland edged a physical encounter at the Aviva Stadium in March 2-1 with skipper Robbie Keane's strike once again proving decisive.
Keane took his international tally to 49 with three goals in last week's Carling Nations Cup wins over Northern Ireland and Scotland, and will run out in Macedonia looking to reach a significant landmark.
Potential strike partner Shane Long did not train with his team-mates in Malahide on Tuesday morning after playing in Reading's 4-2 npower Championship final defeat by Swansea at Wembley.
Long partnered Keane in the first game between the countries after Kevin Doyle limped off with a nasty knee injury, and was left with stitches in his head and ear after a bruising contest with defender Boban Grncharov.
John O'Shea, Aiden McGeady and Kevin Kilbane did all train, however, after joining up following their club commitments, while Sean St Ledger was also put through his paces following a knee injury, although midfielder Darron Gibson is out with a groin problem, much to Trapattoni's annoyance.
