Magpies plan to honour Hunt

Notts County players will form a guard of honour for Stephen Hunt when he makes a 'special' return from injury in the new year.

Hunt has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in March during a loan spell at Lincoln. He underwent surgery to repair the problem but it was unsuccessful and the defender had to have another operation because of an infection. The 27-year-old is finally on the road to recovery and is targeting a comeback in January. "Stephen Hunt. Oh my god, he's had such a tough time. It can be horrible being injured," manager Martin Allen told the Nottingham Post. "The wound has finally healed and he's been working so hard to get back that I recently gave him some time off to have a holiday or see family, as a pat on the back. "He's steadily getting fitter. He has done well to reach the level he is at and now he has to take the next step by working with the physio and our strength and conditioning coaches. "It will be very, very special for all of us when he gets back on to the training pitch. We will probably have one of those guard of honours and get everyone to stand and clap him as he walks through the middle. It will be good to have him back when he's fit."