Reading's new midfielder Marek Matejovsky insists Stephen Hunt does not deserve the bad-guy reputation he has been given in the Czech Republic.Irishman Hunt was considered something akin to public enemy number one in Matejovsky's native land after his knee made contact with national hero Petr Cech and fractured the Chelsea goalkeeper's skull during a Premier League match at the Madejski Stadium 17 months ago.

But Matejovsky, a £1million signing from FK Mlada Boleslav, said: "When I arrived at the club, he (Hunt) was among the first to welcome me and show me around the facilities.

"He is a very quiet and nice lad. What happened with Petr Cech was just an unfortunate coincidence.

"When I was in the Czech Republic, I thought 'that guy Hunt must be rowdy', but now I am getting to know him, I must say that he is a really polite person," Matejovsky, who has started the last four games for the Royals and become a key component in their fight against relegation, told the Reading Evening Post.

Hunt was not sent off or even booked by referee Mike Riley for the first-minute challenge that resulted in Cech being out of football for more than three months.

Cech now plays in a protective skull-cap, which may be the case for the rest of his career.

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