Stephen Hunt, the Reading striker, has forgiven his Republic of Ireland teammate, Lee Carsley, for the high-studded challenge that left him in agony during the Royals’ 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Hunt was furious and was restrained by his skipper Graeme Murty. However, the midfielder insisted there were no hard feelings and that he shook Carsley’s hand after the match.

Mark Halsey, the referee, missed the incident and Carsley escaped a caution but it was highlighted later on Match of the Day. The FA has not called for a review of the incident and Hunt too dismissed the need for a follow-up, telling the Reading Evening Post: “He said he didn’t mean it and I trust him.”

Hunt added: “My legs were like Scooby-Doo’s when ‘Murts’ picked me up. I couldn’t go anywhere. But Carsley’s a good lad. It was just one of those things.”

Reading’s seventh consecutive Premier League defeat leaves them in the relegation zone for the first time in nearly five months - and it is two weeks until they can try to remedy the situation against Aston Villa at home. Hunt insisted: “We are all positive and we look forward to the Villa game. I wish it was this week, to be honest.

“We have to play without fear. The remaining 12 games will be all about that. We have to step up a gear and play how we know we can. We did that at Everton and were a bit unlucky not to get a result.”