Bolton favourite Nicky Hunt on injury scare, retirement thoughts and playing centre half

The 37-year-old former Wanderers favourite hit the headlines last month after an injury scare while playing for Darlington, the full back plying his trade outside of the Football League for the first time since 2001 after joining the National League North side in July.

He is keen to squeeze as much out of his career as he possibly can and despite suffering a serious head injury that left him briefly hospitalised, Hunt feels he can continue beyond the end of this season.

“It was a nasty one [the head injury]. I was in bed for six days but on the seventh day I rose from my bed, went out for a walk and honestly I felt great,” said Hunt, treated on the pitch for more than an hour before being taken away in an ambulance as Darlo’s game against Boston United was abandoned.

“I’ve toyed with retirement over the past two or three years, but I’ve spoken to a lot of ex-pros who’ve gone into coaching and management and they’ve all said the day you pack it in is a day that sticks with you for the rest of your life.

“There’s nothing like putting a pair of boots on and going out to play on a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday night.

“At this moment in time, I feel fit enough to carry on even beyond this season.

Hunt in action for Darlington in the FA Cup

“It’s all about injuries really, if my knees and back are OK, they’re the biggest problem, but everything else is alright to be honest.”

Having made a career as a full-back, notoriously one of the busiest and most physically demanding positions on the pitch, Hunt has had to adapt his game and position to get the best out of his experienced legs.

“I’ve not played right-back since I played for Kevin Nolan at Notts County in 2016,” he said. “I’ve played centre-half ever since and I love it.

“You’re in the game more and you can see everything.

“Obviously with my legs, I’m nowhere near as quick as I used to be and you come up against some really, really good players even at this level, especially the tricky wingers, and you just don’t want to get embarrassed.

“I could probably do a job at right-back for 10 minutes, but for 90 minutes it’d be a tough old slog against some young whipper snapper.”

A career in football is short and Hunt has made a conscious effort to form a network with those he’s met in the game as he assesses his options for when he does hang up his boots.

And he’s keen to embrace as many opportunities as possible.

“With the pandemic and football as it is at the minute, it’s given me six or seven months to realise that I might have to take something if it came and hit me in the face rather than just focussing on one thing that might not happen for god knows how many years,” Hunt said.

“I’ve tried to keep in touch with everyone. I’d like to do a bit of football agency if I can.

“I don’t want to focus solely on one thing, you see. I’ve got my coaching badges and just need to do my UEFA Pro License.

“I’ve just got my eyes open and I’ve had to be a bit cheeky along the way, ringing people up, emailing people and trying to meet up before Covid hit just to see what’s what.

“Who likes me from my playing career and all that, it’s all about who you know in football.

“The more people you know, the more opportunities you’re going to get.”

From Daisy Hill, Hunt is a veteran of 127 Premier League appearances with Wanderers.

Of course his period as a terrace favourite is synonymous with Sam Allardyce, back in the top flight with West Bromwich Albion last week, tasked with keeping the Baggies in the big time.

“Sam was massive in two ways,” Hunt said looking back.

“He was incredible with the man-management side of the game and he’d know exactly how to control players from different backgrounds and cultures.

“He could manage them perfectly through difficult times in their careers or the best times in their careers.

“He just had a knack for getting the best out of everyone.”