Hunt hoping to meet Cech

Reading striker Stephen Hunt is hoping to meet Petr Cech when the Royals visit Chelsea in the Barclays Premiership on Boxing Day.

The clubs meet over the festive period for the first time since the controversial clash at the Madejski Stadium last month when goalkeeper Cech suffered a fractured skull following a collision with Hunt in the first minute of the Blues' 1-0 victory.

"If I see him face to face obviously I'll talk to him," Hunt told The Times. "There's a time and a place for everything and I'd prefer to do it in private. I'd like to talk to him about what happened and tell him why I didn't go to see him in hospital - hopefully I'll see him on Boxing Day."

The 25-year-old also insists there was no intent in the challenge and was stunned by the seriousness of the situation, adding: "It was a freak accident."