Noel Hunt: If Aiden Played In Serie A He Would Go For £25m

Mar 9 2008 Ewing Grahame

Celtic V Dundee Utd Wednesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm

DUNDEE UNITED striker Noel Hunt reckons Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is crazy to rate Aiden McGeady at £12million - because the Celtic star is worth more than double that.

The Toon boss has been linked with a bid for the Bhoy wonder and will run the rule over him again when Celts face United at Parkhead on Wednesday.

However, Hunt insists Republic of Ireland winger McGeady is worth more than Scotland's record transfers - £9m goalie Craig Gordon and £8m full-back Alan Hutton - put together.

And he's hoping the Hoops star puts in a word for him with national boss Giovanni Trapattoni to earn the Tannadice hitman a first senior Irish call-up.

Hunt (below) said: "That would be nice.

Aiden has been part of the international set-up for years and has deserved it.

"I've read reports of him being a £12m player but if he was a Brazilian or Italian with the same skills he'd be worth £25m.

"When Aiden played against Barcelona at Parkhead he gave Carles Puyol, one of the world's best defenders, a going-over.

"You don't see that every day, someone taking on Puyol and skinning him. Aiden is a gem and Gordon Strachan will find it hard to hold on to him."

Hunt would love to join his older brother, Reading midfielder Stephen, in the Irish squad and is frustrated he hasn't been selected yet.

The 25-year-old said: "You could argue I'm due a call-up after hitting double figures in the last two seasons. But if you look at the competition - Reading's Kevin Doyle, Tottenham's Robbie Keane and Damien Duff at Newcastle - they've been playing in the Premiership.

"It's up to me to start scoring again and put my name in the hat.

"We have a lot of high-profile games coming up - Celtic on Wednesday then the CIS Cup Final against Rangers - so it will help me get noticed if I do well.

"We're aiming for the top three and have the quality to do that."

Tannadice stoppers Darren Dods and Lee Wilkie have spoken about how manager Craig Levein has made them better players. But Hunt argues the former Scotland defender's influence goes way beyond the back four.

He said: "The gaffer is great technically and tactically. He seems to know the ins and outs of every position and has added goals to my game by telling me things defenders don't like.

"He has changed my game a bit and improved me. Now I'm aiming for 20 goals before the end of the season.

"A lot of our success is down to the manager.He breaks things down and keeps it simple. The boss has a hands-on approach and that has got us to where we are.

"He studies our opponents and always seems to spot weaknesses. The Old Firm don't have as many as the others so our next two matches will be tough.

"We want that UEFA Cup spot and to keep pressure on Motherwell by taking something from Parkhead."