ACCRINGTON Stanley new boy Nicky Hunt is determined to put a frustrating period behind him as he aims to show he still has the quality that once made him a Premier League regular with Bolton Wanderers.

Hunt made more than 150 appearances for hometown club Bolton but has since represented five clubs in as many years and has now joined Stanley on a month’s loan from Rotherham United, after losing his place under Millers manager Steve Evans.

The 29-year-old helped the Reds to a clean sheet on his debut on New Year’s Day, as Leam Richardson’s side beat Chesterfield 1-0, and he is expected to start at right back once more for tomorrow’s League Two clash at home to Dagenham and Redbridge.

Asked if he felt he was still capable of reproducing his old form, Hunt said: “Hopefully, I think it will all come with a run of games.

“You can train as much as you want but if you don’t play at the end of it, it’s hard.

“You’re only as good as your last game so for me to get games is fantastic and hopefully I’ll show everyone here what I’m about and what ability I’ve got.

“When I did sign for Rotherham I thought that was me there to stay but obviously it’s not to be under the current manager.

“It’s been massively frustrating, I signed for a new club and played the first eight or nine games, then it doesn’t go your way and you fall out of favour with the manager.

“You just want to play, you want to train every day and have something at the end of it and I’ve not been having that, so hopefully I can do that here.”

Hunt had loan spells with Birmingham and Derby after falling down the pecking order at Bolton, at a time when he was also blighted by a persistent shoulder problem.

He then moved on to Bristol City, making only eight appearances in 18 months before spending the second half of last season in League One with Preston.

Hunt’s Bolton debut came in Leam Richardson’s final game for the Trotters in 2000, when he came on as a substitute for current Rovers coach Colin Hendry, and the Stanley boss had been persistent in his chase for his former team-mate in recent weeks.

“It’s always nice to know when a manager wants to sign you,” said Hunt, who also knows Reds forward James Beattie.

“He was at Bolton with me, he’s down to earth and I think he will be a great manager.

“It’s local for me, it’s only half an hour down the road so it’s ideal for all parties.

“I’m here for a month initially but I really enjoyed my debut so if the manager wants me here longer than that, then hopefully for me we’ll do that.”