Royals ace aims to prove his price-tag

Reading's Stephen Hunt is determined to show Everton boss David Moyes that he is a £5million player between now and January.

The Republic of Ireland international midfielder was the subject of a failed £3.5million bid from the Toffees on transfer deadline day and the Merseysiders refused to meet the £5million price tag needed to activate a get-out clause in his contract.

Hunt has since confirmed that, while he is happy with the Royals in the Championship for the time being, he would like a return to the Premier League as quickly as possible, whether that be at the Madejski Stadium or elsewhere. And he will use the next four months to show Moyes he was worth upping his offer to £5million.

"I'll be honest with you, nothing has ever come easy for me in terms of football, so it does re-focus me in terms of what I want to achieve," Hunt told the Liverpool Echo.

"I understand Reading's point of view, I totally do, but I am looking forward to the next game or so and proving to people that I am worth the £5million.

"They can't argue with the way I play, and that's all I can do. Any player will tell you they want to play in The Premier League.

"They have understood my honesty over the years on certain situations and that's what they probably like about me. But at the same time, I am here and all I can do is give 100 percent.

"But I am happy at Reading. I live in a nice area. I have never said I am unhappy - but I want to better myself as well.

"I said in The Premier League that if you play in The Premier League, you do stand a better chance of getting in the (Ireland) starting XI.

"What I have got to do is keep my standards as high as I can and score as many goals as I can and be in the headlines as much as I possibly can between now and the end of the season, and then in World Cup year, be in The Premier League with Reading or without Reading."