NICKY Hunt stood on the threshold of a dream today and admitted: "It's all come a bit soon."

The new kid on the block has enjoyed a meteoric rise from ambitious reserve to first-team regular in just five months and sounded genuinely amazed as he conducted a self-assessment of his progress.

"It's hard to describe how far I've come," he says, struggling to find the words. "It's all happened so quickly. It's not shocked me, but I must admit it's surprised me a bit. It's just about sinking in.

"It's been difficult not to get carried away, because everything's come so fast and I've had to adjust very quickly to the surroundings and the outside factors of football.

"It's been difficult and I've had to learn to adjust, but this is my lifestyle now.

"I've had some help from the manager and the coaching staff - they've been brilliant - and I've had advice from Kevin Nolan, who's been through it himself.

"It's my job now and I've just got to get on with it."

Handed the shirt for the opening game of the season at Manchester United, Hunt - the only local lad in the senior squad - sounded a touch over-ambitious when he set his sights on making 10 Premiership starts.

But he soon raised the bar to 25, and now has a target of 30 . . . plus a Carling Cup winners' medal . . . and a place in Europe.

High expectations? Hunt doesn't think so.

"It's a boyhood dream playing for the club you support," says the 20-year-old from Westhoughton.

"I've achieved that. Now I'm looking at the next stage - and, in reality, the Carling Cup final is a great possibility now.

"People are even talking about Europe.

"First I think we've got to just concentrate on getting the points on the board and the wins we know we can achieve to get as high a position in the table as possible.

"But it is achievable."

It sums up the progress Hunt has made since graduating from the Academy ranks that he will be sorely missed if he picks up another yellow card and is forced to serve a one-match ban.

Seemingly nerveless, he has made the right-back berth his own, starting 17 of the 22 Premiership games to date and making priceless contributions in attack as well as on the defensive side. But he still finds it strange adjusting to life as a Premiership footballer.

"I used to come in on match days and watch the others getting ready," he explained. "Now it's a whole new experience knowing that it's me getting changed and me going out on to the pitch. That's the reality for me now."

Having made his Premier League bow at Old Trafford in front of a crowd of 67,000, you would think Hunt would take tonight's semi-final clash with Villa in his stride.

But he knows what is at stake and expects a highly-charged atmosphere at the Reebok.

"It's the cup and it's a big game," he acknowledged. "It's something I have never experienced in my career and it will be a different kind of atmosphere.

"I'm sure the expectation of the fans will be high because we are going so well in the league and we're playing at home.

"That puts pressure on but I've spoken to some of the senior players about how they cope.

"It's basic stuff, but I hope it will help me adjust the to the type of game we're going to be playing."

Hunt was in the crowd when Wanderers clinched promotion to the Premiership at the Millennium Stadium in May 2001. He admitted that it whetted his appetite for first-team action.

"I really want to get out there and experience that magnificent atmosphere as a player," he added. "It would incredible if we could bring some silverware to Bolton as the town and the club would get a massive boost."