Following surgery to repair a damaged right-foot, inspirational Somerset Eagles? sweeper Musceo Hunt has begun the long journey to recovery.

Hunt separated a bone in his right foot representing Bermuda during the opening match of the recent tour of the Island by Nicaragua.

The Eagles? defender came out worse in an early challenge and was whisked to hospital by ambulance where X- rays later revealed the injury, commonly referred to as a ?? separation.

Hunt, who watched Bermuda?s second match against Nicaragua in a wheel chair in the grandstand at the National Sports Centre last Friday, underwent lengthy surgery the next day and is now at home recovering with his injured foot heavily plastered in a cast protecting several screws and wires re-connecting the separated bones.

?It is a little discomforting at times,? he said yesterday from his Somerset Bridge residence. ? My foot will be in a cast for the next six weeks and I have to go back (to hospital) next week.?

Doctors will check on Hunt?s progress in another three weeks, when the dreadlocked player is due for a routine post surgery check up. He hopes to begin the rehabilitation process in six weeks time.

But watching his team-mates play from the rafters of the NSC last Friday proved to be a very ?difficult? experience, said Hunt.

?It was difficult because obviously I would have liked to have been out there playing,? he said. ?But the good thing was that I was able to come out and support the team. The match went pretty good. It?s seems as though the players are trying to find a little bit more consistency in their play as far as knocking the ball around and supporting each other.

?I think they became a little complacent and allowed Nicaragua to come back into the game. I think they allowed their (Nicaraguan) players to run freely in the middle of the field which in most cases spells danger.?

That apart, Hunt is pleased to see his team-mates beginning to find their ?groove?.

?We are knocking the ball around and trying to get into a nice rhythm and finding a groove,? he observed.

As to the daunting challenge of regaining fitness in time for June?s World Cup commitment against El Salvador, Hunt has again left that in the safe ?hands of the Father?.

?Truthfully I haven?t even thought whether or not this will be the end of my World Cup. I?m just leaving it in the hands of the Father and taking things one day at a time,? he added. ?The healing process is a natural thing and so it will have a lot to do with fitness and the state of mind. I am just trying to remain positive and lend my support to the team. I encourage them to work hard.?

Hunt reckons Bermuda football has made a considerable turnaround given recent inspiring results against Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat and Nicaragua.

?I think Bermuda has made a definite turnaround and the players have put in a tremendous effort. Despite last weekend?s chaotic episode at Wellington Oval, we still have some positive memories in mind,? he said.? But I think somebody has to make a stand in order for things to turn around and I think these players can actually achieve that.?

The former Somerset Trojans? player believes Bermuda?s other pro, David Bascome, should be included in the Island?s World Cup plans.

?Although he (Bascome) has been playing indoor football for a long time. . . the experience he has as a player would be invaluable to the team,? Hunt added.

?It?s about giving the younger players the motivation and the confidence within themselves. And I think David can provide that.?