Reading star Hunt: Cech row was so weird and nasty

But over the same period Hunt has also endured a spell of being football's 'Public Enemy No1' and with it a level of vitriol so poisonous that he was sent death threats.

That the furore surrounding his collision with Petr Cech was the making - rather than the breaking - of his career is testament to Hunt's mental strength.

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Flash point: Hunt collides with Cech

But it remains a source of frustration to the Irishman that he is more famous for his errant knee than his left foot.

Hunt said: "It was annoying suddenly getting all this limelight over an accident. I was sorry for everyone at the club because we were taking stick for the wrong reasons.

"In one match, I'd gone from total anonymity to everyone knowing who I am which was a bit weird. But I want to be known for the way I play, not for what unfortunately happened to Petr Cech."

Hunt's clash with Cech took place in the opening minute of Chelsea's October visit and left the Czech goalkeeper with a fractured skull.

The incident provoked a furious reaction from Mourinho who described the challenge as a "disgrace" and accused Hunt of laughing about the incident afterwards.

Didier Drogba also claimed it was "not an accident", adding: "Some people will use any means to beat us."

Hunt refuted the Chelsea's interpretation, insisting he made no attempt to injure Cech and did not take any pleasure from it either.

Television replays proved inconclusive on the issue of intent and, although Hunt was not disciplined by the Football Association, Mourinho's attack carried sway with some commentators and Coppell chose to leave him out of the return game at Stamford Bridge in December.

Ahead of Chelsea's first visit to the Madejski Stadium since Cech's injury, Hunt has provided a fresh account of the collision and, for the first time, revealed his feelings about the aftermath.

Hunt recalled: "It was in the opening seconds. I found myself in an attacking position and I saw the ball come loose.

"I just thought, 'go for it' but as Petr came out and I went in to compete for the ball, my trailing knee caught him.

Getting stuck in: Hunt (right) shows his battling qualities against Manchester United

"I didn't know what happened to him but he stayed down. I just presumed he'd be up and back in goal in a moment. But he wasn't up. He was just lying there with medical staff around him.

"After a long wait, he was stretchered off. It was not a nice moment. No player wants to injure another, and I felt anxious, hoping it was not too bad.

"But I just had to get on with it and concentrate on playing.

There were a few Chelsea players in my ear but the most important thing was not to go into my shell for the next 90 minutes."

Speaking to author Stuart Roach for his new book Reading Between The Lines, which chronicles the club's first season in the Premier League, Hunt added: "After the game, I heard the post-match comments made by Jose Mourinho.

"He said Petr was lucky to be alive and claimed I was laughing about the incident. I certainly was not.

"The collision was a complete accident. I'm not the kind of person to deliberately hurt an opponent. It was not until after the game that I realised quite how badly hurt he was.

"It was announced he had a fractured skull. That knocked me back a bit, I actually had to sit down, but my first thoughts were with Petr, hoping he was okay.

"Over the next few days, the reaction to the incident built up. I think most people knew I didn't mean it to happen, but everyone wanted to have their say and things got nasty for me.

"A few days later at the training ground, I opened a letter which turned out to be a death threat, allegedly from a Chelsea fan. I didn't know if it was genuine but the club took it seriously.

Of course, the boys made a joke out of it and stuck it up on the notice board at the training ground. But then a second letter arrived.

Petr Cech lies on a stretcher after his collision with Hunt

"It wasn't nice, but it was not as worrying as if they'd come to my house. That would have been a different matter.

If people want to write death threats, I can't control that. It was still a shock but we have good security at the training ground so I just got on with it."

Hunt's Reading team-mates, including Steven Sidwell - who is now with Chelsea - were full of praise over the way he handled the controversy.

Sidwell describes the former Brentford player as "real rock who is mentally strong and tough", adding: "I'm sure if there is a similar incident in the first minute of another game he'll go in exactly the same."

How well such a move would go down on the Chelsea bench is debatable, although Sidwell will be equally up for the match according to Reading captain Graeme Murty.

He said: "Steve is a top man who wears his heart on his sleeve and has an ever-so-slightly spiky character. He trains as he plays, so if you dwell on the ball you will get lamped."